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Extremist church to be blocked at border: report
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CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Thursday Aug. 7, 2008 11:47 PM ET
Canadian border guards have been told to bar a fanatic church group that was planning to protest the funeral of a man beheaded on a Greyhound bus, reports say.
NDP MP Pat Martin told the Winnipeg Free Press that Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day sent the alert to border guards Thursday.
The church group, described in a British documentary as "the most hated family in America," told CTV.ca earlier Thursday that it planned to protest at the funeral of 22-year-old Tim Mclean on Saturday.
Martin said his office was flooded with phone calls Thursday with Winnipeg constituents angered by the group's plan.
"These people are almost as crazy as the murderer," he told the newspaper, referring to the church's intentions.
The daughter of the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, Ka., told CTV.ca she and several other church members will go to Winnipeg on Saturday to demonstrate against what she described as McLean's "filthy way of life." Shirley Phelps-Roper said his life was emblematic of Canada's moral decay.
"God handed us a gift," Phelps-Roper said in a phone interview on Thursday.
She said McLean deserved his death by beheading on a Greyhound Bus last week.
"(His death was) supremely unemotional. You got God shaking in rage. There is no emotional component ... He was a rebel against God. He was taught to be a rebel by his parents. He came from a rebel country ... They brought this wrath upon his head. And it sucks to be him and it sucks to be them," Phelps-Roper said.
She said his brutal murder was a sign from God.
"You gotta connect the dots, people ... from your idols to your filthy way of life," she said.
"Here's what I know. He is dead and God does not do that to people that serve in his truth."
Phelps-Roper described McLean -- who she had never met -- in an insulting, insensitive and graphic manner. Her crudest descriptions of the 22-year-old are not printed.
"I haven't met him personally, but he has nothing going on," she said dismissively.
"(His life) was all about him. Blah, blah, blah ... He was a rebel ... I don't need to know anything else ... I don't need to know the minutia. Everything you need to know is right there."
The Westboro Baptist church has gained notoriety in recent years for setting up protest pickets at the funerals of U.S. soldiers who died in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Church members claim the deaths are part of God's wrath against Americans for turning their back on his teachings. They have repeatedly called the U.S. a "fag" nation, a phrase Phelps-Roper used repeatedly to describe Canada.
Phelps-Roper said she does not mind that her family is reviled by the majority of Americans. She claimed she rejoices when people say they despise and hate her family.
"I say, 'cha ching.' That goes in our bank. God gives us tokens of his love," she said.
Phelps-Roper said members of the Westboro Baptist Church, which numbers about "70 souls," is comprised mainly of a single extended family.
The group was supposed to protest a play held in a downtown Toronto bar that mocked their church's reviled views. "The Pastor Phelps Project" played at The Cameron House Thursday without incident, according to reports.
McLean was killed on July 30 after being stabbed repeatedly on a Greyhound bus by a complete stranger. He was then beheaded.
Vince Li, 40, has been charged with second-degree murder. A psychiatric evaluation has been ordered for Li.
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I applaud the budget, even though Health Care and education may stay unscathed. Sadly this cannot last and I worry to later this year where cuts will become enviable. If anything, this provides the Wildrose Alliance plenty of ammo when an election is called.


Comments are now closed for this story
Julie
said
Peter
said
Bill
said
Ashley
said
Louise
said
What about do not judge?
This group is a fine example of God's loving children and to think that children in their 'church' are being raised with such hatred and hostility. Heaven help us.
God rest that young man's soul. Such a horrible way to die.
Tricia
said
mark
said
Refuse entry or arrest...
Allan Eizinas
said
Their actions and statements are an example of what can happen eventually with inter-family marriage and procreation.
Bizarre!
C Bouvier
said
Patricia O'Brien
said
Derek Churchill
said
CJ Carleton
said
Phelps-roper states: "He is dead and God does not do that to people that serve in his truth." If you read your Bible you will learn that John the Baptist was beheaded and he without a doubt served in truth.
How much hatred can you have in your heart to protest a funeral?
Diane
said
Appalled
said
Stephen Joseph
said
Anonymous
said
AMB
said
Sad.
Kevin
said
Chelsie
said
My thoughts and prayers go out to Tim's family and friends, who certainly do not need this added grief. May they find comfort in this tragic time, and may he rest in peace.
Kelley Stanczak
said
a Christian
said
Amy MacDonald
said
EJ
said
griffin
said
Is this not a glaring example of something our hate crime laws should cover?
We don't need to import hate.
Rather arogant of them to think they can just walk across the border,do what ever they want, and we would'nt stop them.
Fanatics, of any strip, are dangerous.
Jj
said
"Everything you need to know is right there," so says Phelps-Roper. Right there? Where? The young man has been described as nothing less than a good guy - not a lick of negativity anywhere. Where, even in their twisted minds, was the proof? What painted him a rebel - traveling out west for seasonal work? I wasn't aware that pursuing employment in a different location was asking for the wrath of a deity figure. Was it because he didn't believe in God enough? No one knows whether or not he was a follower, but somehow WBC miraculously knows more about his faith than his closest family members and friends?
It's frightening enough that WBC exists at all; that they protest the funerals of hard-working military men and women. But now they're pulling random justifications out of the air and using them to cause more harm to people they don't know.
Inflicting irrevocable harm on people they don't know - a dangerous group they are.
dp
said
Just because they are planning to do this, doesn't make them newsworthy - this is just a plan to use this tragedy to promote their own ludicrous ideologies.
Andrea
said
Jeff
said
Now I wonder- can these religious fanatics be turned back at the border for the same reason? Who is more guilty of immorality- my friend who got high, or these hate-mongers? If the Canadian government doesn't turn these people back, what does that tell us about our system?
Fredericton, NB
said
The McLean family has experienced such a terrible loss, and my thoughts are with them at such a very sad time.
Pastor Kevin
said
rouquinne
said
please, citizens of Winnipeg, please go to Tim's funeral and do whatever you can to block these nutbars (should they make it across the border) from the eyes of the McLean family on this sad occasion.
Raj - Ottawa
said
How are these people different than fanatics in any other religion? They are not. They are all brainwashed. These people live in an advanced/educated western country, yet their belief system is even worse than the worse of pre-historic middle ages.
This is unbelievable.
Lighten up people. Don’t complicate the religion. Keep it simple: Love, Be Compassionate, Show Humility, Earn an honest living, Share your earning with the needy and respect/acknowledge all. That’s all that’s it.
Anyway, I am appalled at this news.
Michael (Ottawa)
said
Secondly, perhaps not so obvious is the demonic inspired "so called" church group all from one very deceived extended family making these despicable contemptuous and hate filled comments.
Anyone who understands even the basic scriptures knows Shirley Phelps-Roper and her family members do not represent God, they do not represent the Christian message and they speak only from their own very warped, hate filled, judgmental and twisted viewpoint.
Christ came to save the world not to condemn it.
This is a terrible affront to the McLean family at the worst possible time and these people should be stopped at the border and sent packing where they belong.
Michelle
said
I think you and your group are demented and I do hope that you are not allowed anywhere near the Canadian Border ... think of this young mans family; such pain are they enduring and then to have such horrible comments made from someone who didn't even know Tim.
Elaine
said
I hope the U.S. government will also keep these hate mongers at home!
Sarah from Ottawa
said
Under s. 319(1) of the Criminal Code, anyone who communicates statements in a public place and thereby incites hatred against an identifiable group where such incitement leads to a breach of the peace is guilty of an indictable offence punishable by two years' imprisonment or a summary conviction offence. Section 319(2) makes it a crime to communicate, except in private conversation, statements that wilfully promote hatred against an identifiable group. Section 319(7) defines "communicating" to include communicating by telephone, broadcasting or other audible or visible means. "Public place" is defined to include any place to which the public has access as of right or by invitation, express or implied. "Statements" include words spoken or written or recorded electronically, electromagnetically or otherwise and also include gestures, signs or other representations.
I guess we have to ad "people who choose to live their life the way they see fit" to the definition of identifiable group! Unbelievable! Doesn't this church group have something more positive to do with their time than to cause further pain and suffering for Tim's family?
MD in Ottawa
said
How could anyone say he deserved what happend? This is totally out of control.
Natalie
said
Anonymous
said
Glo from Ottawa
said
Bob
said
Ben Martin
said
Ajay
said
DJC
said
David in Ontario
said
Having said that, we *do* have freedom of speech and expression in Canada, so all we can do it counter their message with our own.
Having just said THAT, I don't believe that a person's funeral is the place for protest. The worst thing we can do to this group is ignore them.
My two cents' worth.
IT Manager from Edmonton
said
I welcome free speech becuase it makes us stronger and despise what's going on in Canada that restricts such activites (Human rights tribunals). But having said that I wish I was in Winnipeg to confront these clowns for their hateful message that will in the end only serve to harm the family and friends of Tim McLean.
No way in hell did he deserve to die like he did and no way does his family and friends deserve the hurt that will come from these people show up at his funeral.
Rest In Peace Tim McLean
said
I think everyone, including the press, needs to leave McLean's family alone so they can move through the grieving process.
Even if McLean lived a "filthy life" (which I don't think he did based on comments from those who knew him) no one deserves to be beheaded.
Religious fanatics have no place in our society.
As The World Churns
said
An opinion
said
These people are quite obviously looking for a reaction out of people and they are getting it. Completely agreed that Canada customs should not allow such hate mongers across the border.
Have a little decency and let this family grieve in peace.
Pastor Les from Ontario
said
My condolences to the McLean family, and my sincerest apologies for those who would presume to speak in the name of the God I serve.
Kim
said
Also Anonymous
said
Lynne
said
Deborah Harper
said
Mae
said
In good Faith, people who truly believe in God would pray for this man and his family to find peace and not create any more pain.
Emily
said
The people of Winnipeg should demand to hear what the authorities will do should these people try to enter Canada.
Sara
said
I'm actually speechless.
Alison
said
000
said
Under s. 319(1) of the Criminal Code, anyone who communicates statements in a public place and thereby incites hatred against an identifiable group where such incitement leads to a breach of the peace is guilty of an indictable offence punishable by two years' imprisonment or a summary conviction offence. Section 319(2) makes it a crime to communicate, except in private conversation, statements that wilfully promote hatred against an identifiable group. Section 319(7) defines "communicating" to include communicating by telephone, broadcasting or other audible or visible means. "Public place" is defined to include any place to which the public has access as of right or by invitation, express or implied. "Statements" include words spoken or written or recorded electronically, electromagnetically or otherwise and also include gestures, signs or other representations.
WMN
said
Ben
said
The Westboro Baptist Church is a joke. They claim they are "connecting the dots" and that Tim McLean's death is a result of Canadians rejecting god.
Are you kidding me? Are they saying that not one person in Canada believes in god or practices religion? It's pretty clear the only thing Westboro practices is ignorance.
And is Westboro Baptist Church trying to say that no one gets murdered in America? Last time I checked they have the highest murder rate amongst all first world countries in the entire world!!
I can guarantee one thing: if this group protests at Tim's funeral, they better have the army with them, otherwise us "fags" will give them the beating of their lifetime.
Nicole
said
David Knezevic
said
Tim
said
Section 319(2) of the Criminal Code of Canada...
(2) Every one who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, wilfully promotes hatred against any identifiable group is guilty of
(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; or
(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.
Jane
said
nicole
said
GP
said
Dave
said
Pam
said
He who is without sin should cast the first stone. The Bible teaches that we all have sinned. God has said to love thy neighbour. There is no love in the actions of this group and they condone the breaking of one of the Ten Commandments, "Thou Shalt Not Murder". This group is not without sin.
I will pray for Tim Mclean's family as they face each day without their loved one. I will pray for this group in hopes that their hatred and anger may be replaced with love and compassion, which is of God.
James Barth
said
Michel
said
Kent
said
Let her in, and let the people welcome her
said
We should not refuse entry into Canada based on what someone says, as Freedom Of Speech is one of our most important rights in this country. Introducing government to prevent her visit would be stupid.
Lets take it one step farther, we should let her into the country, and give her no government attention. Let's not provide police protection or interfere with the will of the people.
I'm quite sure the people will handle this stupid situation very well on their own. If I was there, she wouldn't feel welcome.
Steve
said
Amalia
said
"Protest Against The Westboro Baptist Church Attending Tim McLean's Funeral"
Prynce
said
Misty
said
Fellow Winnipeger
said
Mike from Waterloo
said
The WBC is in Toronto protesting against whatever they can find and are moving westward. I guess they got past customs wearing fake nose and glasses.
My condolences to the McLean family. I pray that no more harm comes to all of you during this tragic time. May Tim rest in peace.
Kevin in Waterloo
said
These abuses happen because we have a very narrow view that a right is guaranteed legally with no strings attached. Because of that, anytime a view like Phelp-Ropers is squashed, they scream violation of their rights!
My friend has a saying that he uses when raising his kids... "Every right comes with an equal responsibility". In this case, the right to free speech comes with a responsibility to make a positive difference in the world by using speech to protest injustice and to argue for a better world. Similarily, freedom of religion for one comes with a responsibility to live peaceably with others of different faiths.
Too bad our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, wasn't instead the Charter of Rights, Freedoms and Responsibilities. What a difference that would make!