Betty Ford Service Expects Protests from Westboro Baptist Church
The controversial Westboro Baptist Church announced on Monday that its members will be protesting at the funeral of former First Lady Betty Ford that is taking place Tuesday afternoon. Members reportedly will be sent to protest at 1 p.m. at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church and at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids.
WBC, which is notorious for protesting at the funerals of war veterans, has said its reason for protesting at the funeral service is that Ford was an adulterer for divorcing her first husband William Warren and marrying former President Gerald Ford.
"God H8s divorce/remarriage," the group said in a statement.
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The group further rebukes many of the Betty Ford’s viewpoints and reproaches her legacy of being a well-respected individual.
The group writes, “She urged all the women of this doomed foul nation to engage in extra-marital sex. She pushed for abortion, because when you teach a nation's women to be whores, it’s inevitable pregnancies will inconvenience the selfish strumpets! THAT is the legacy of Betty Ford."
Westboro Baptist Church, which has been labeled as radical in the eyes of mainstream Christian organizations, faulted the media for allowing Ford to express her views on premarital sex, abortion and same-sex marriage.
“You mutts love to find someone to talk about sin, so you cooed over her whorish ways & loved her smut talk. You are to blame; & today she curses you in hell," Westboro wrote.
The self-proclaimed church, which is made up of nothing more than family members of pastor Fred Phelps, often chooses high-profile and emotional events to picket at. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the Kansas church has the right to free speech though it may be hurtful speech.
Ford died Friday in California at the age of 93. She was married to William Warren for five years before she divorced, and later married Gerald Ford in 1948. The viewing service on Tuesday will be held at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church and be attended by First Lady Michelle Obama and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter who has been invited to address mourners with a speech.
Her body will then be flown to its final resting ground at the Grace Episcopal Church next to her late husband.
