The Flint Hills Observer
February 1997

Phelps Can’t Picket On the Church Steps
from press reports

The Supreme Court says it will NOT review a state judge's order that set up a protest-buffer zone around St. David's Episcopal Church in Topeka, Kansas. In the dispute, the Westboro Baptist Church says the buffer zone prevents the Phelps clan from continuing its legal ``God Hates Fags'' campaign outside of St. David’s.

St. David's told the Supreme Court Westboro has no affiliation with any other organization, and is a family group rather than a religious organization. The Topeka Episcopal church says Westboro not only brands homosexuals as ``fags,'' but uses the same terminology to attack anyone who disagrees with its members, particularly Jews.

St. David's says Westboro picketers have been involved in at least 20 physical altercations with the public in Topeka, and have tried to intimidate Episcopal women and children. Eventually, a state judge issued a temporary restraining order that effectively kept Westboro pickets from shouting or demonstrating within 36 feet of St. David's property during any religious event, such as services, a wedding or a funeral.