TOPEKA — Rev. Fred Phelps and members of his Westboro Baptist Church will picket several churches in Ottawa on Sun., Aug. 19. Phelps’ website said Westboro members will picket the First Baptist Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the First United Methodist Church and Grace Episcopal Church the morning of Aug. 19. According to Phelps, the First Baptist Church preaches that God loves everyone and Christ died for everyone, an idea which he finds objectionable. Sacred Heart drew Phelps’ ire because of the Catholic clergy sex scandal and “the raping priests.” The First United Methodist Church was picked because he said the national United Methodist Church is considering a change in its stance regarding same-sex marriage. Grace Episcopal Church was targeted because the American Episcopal Church ordained an openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson.
Wed., Aug. 1, 4 p.m.
