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Westboro Baptist Church to Picket in Annapolis Jan. 2

The controversial church plans to protest the first day of same sex marriage at the Anne Arundel Circuit Court.

UPDATE: (10:50 a.m.)—The controversial Westboro Baptist Church has announced plans to protest outside of the Anne Arundel Circuit Court on Jan 2.—the first day same-sex couples will be able to wed there.

"On that day the court starts committing that abomination that brings the shooter like it did in Connecticut," said Shirley Phelps-Roper, the daughter of the church's founder Fred Phelps. "It isn’t like this is Maryland’s first flip off of God. Maryland has the distinction of being the state that put Westboro Baptist Church on trial."

Maryland voters upheld a law legalizing gay marriage on Nov. 6, and couples began obtaining licenses on Dec. 6—the day Gov. Martin O'Malley certified November's elections results.

The law takes effect Jan. 1, but Maryland courthouses will be closed for New Year's Day. The first day same-sex couples can marry in state courts will be Jan. 2.

The church and its members have made headlines for years by picketing the funerals of soldiers, according to the Huffington Post.

Phelps-Roper also made headlines this weekend when she claimed via Twitter that Adam Lanza, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter, was sent by God.

A point she reiterated to Annapolis Patch, saying "God keeps sending the shooter."

Jonathan Phelps, the son of the church's founder Fred Phelps, told radio host David Pakman in October that he "absolutely" supported having a law that would sentence homosexuals to death.

The group will be outside the court on Church Circle from 8-9 a.m. before moving on to the Baltimore County Circuit Court where they also plan to picket from 10-10:45 a.m.

Related Topics: Anne Arundel Circuit Court, Same Sex Marriage, Wesboro, Westboro Baptist Church, Westboro to Picket Annapolis, gay marriage maryland, and picket

S C Eastport

8:44 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

All that sad little "Church" wants is media attention, and they're sure getting it. How about the media ignore this circus of hate and they would surely fade into irrelevance.

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melanie arena

1:13 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

I agree! All they want is attention. Again, everyone is created equal until they don't follow someone else's beliefs- then they are condemned.

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Winsome Eu

12:56 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012

This is not news. Do you report on what the schizophrenic guy on the street said today? Same thing.

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Karen Bradley Ehler

4:20 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012

A peaceful counter protest to the presence of the WBC is planned in order to drown out the hate and support those going to the courthouse on Jan 2. We will make LOVE LOUDER than hate. For more info, to join, and be informed, go to the FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/134205716736270/permalink/134979273325581/?notif_t=like

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