Fred Phelps wants to built monument
An anti-gay preacher known for his fiery protests over slain University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard has thrown a wrench into another emotional issue in Shepard's hometown.
The city of Casper -- like other communities across the country -- is debating the fate of its Ten Commandments monument, which has sat in the corner of a city park for nearly 40 years.
The Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation last month asked Casper to remove the monument, citing recent legal decisions against similar monuments in Alabama and elsewhere.
Two weeks later, city officials got another letter, this one from the Rev. Fred Phelps, whose Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas has led protests in Casper and Laramie on the anniversary of Shepard's death since the gay college student was murdered in 1998.
Phelps told city officials he wanted to erect a second monument in the park declaring Shepard was in hell for being gay -- saying the presence of the Ten Commandments means all monuments must be allowed.
Phelps is such a wacko I put this here, but he is serious. The city will probably cave and remove the monument. The problem for the city is that if they have any religious monuments they have to accept all religious monuments, they can't favor one religon over another.
Jay
