KANSAS CITY, Mo. — America has spoken. Over 280,000 people want Topkea-based Westboro Baptist Church to be classified as a hate group.
More than 280,000 people have signed a petition on WhiteHouse.gov, making it the most supported single petition on the White House website. The petition only needed 25,000 signatures by Jan. 13, 2013, for it to be reviewed by government officials.
Westboro church member Rebekah Phelps-Davis said she’s surprised more people haven’t signed the petition because everyone in America hates the Bible and that’s what Westboro follows.
“There’s over 330 million citizens of the United States of America, and they all, everyone, hate the word of God,” she said
The petition, created on Dec. 14 — the same day as the Newtown school shooting — states in-part, “Their actions have been directed at many groups, including homosexuals, military, Jewish people and even other Christians. They pose a threat to the welfare and treatment of others and will not improve without some form of imposed regulation.”
But Phelps-Davis said those who oppose them have it all wrong.
“You tell them the truth of God, but they turn it on its head, and turn it as hate,” she said.
Related: Westboro Meets Its Match: Thousands Sign Retaliatory Petitions
Related: Petition to Call Church a Hate Group Gains Momentum
Another petition on the White House website aims at stripping Westboro of its tax-exempt status. As stated on the White House website, the petition claims: “The Westboro Baptist Church is better-known for homophobic displays, suing people and picketing funerals than for providing Christian care to a community. Due to their harassment and politicking, their IRS tax-exempt status should be immediately investigated.”
The petition has far exceeded the 16,062 signatures needed.
The White House has not yet made a ruling on either petition and likely won’t until after their Jan. 13th and 15th deadlines. FOX4KC.com will keep you posted on the outcome.
