In a recent case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the members of a church in K
ID: 3443071 • Letter: I
Question
In a recent case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the members of a church in Kansas called Westboro Baptist have the right to protest at military and other types of funerals with their message of divine judgment on America. The church teaches that America is corrupt for allowing homosexuality in the country and therefore God is judging the U.S. by inflicting death (particularly soldiers' deaths) and certain diseases on America.
In 2005, the church group picketed the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder (a 20-year-old killed in Iraq) with signs such as "Thank God for dead soldiers". Matthew's father brought a lawsuit against the church. Earlier that year (March 2011), the Court ruled 8-1 that the church had the right to protest at military funerals as part of the guaranteed right to free speech. Justice Samuel Alito was the only dissenter, arguing that Albert Snyder, the father, was not a public figure and the actions of the church were not protected under the free speech rights of the Constitution since this was a private funeral. And yet, the church lawyer argued that they were there to get a message about America to America's people and leaders that this country is under God's judgment. They won their case.
offer some of your reflections on the case: Do you agree with the court's majority ruling that the Westboro Baptist Church members have every right to protest at funerals such as that of the soldier Matthew Snyder? Why or why not? What would be your moral reasoning?
Explanation / Answer
Answer- I completely disagree with the court's majority ruling that the Westboro Baptist Church members have every right to protest at funerals such as that of the soldier Matthew Snyder. It is completely wrong to protest any funeral on the basis of conflicts present in the country. All religious places are the home of God and all people should be welcomed there. The church of Kansas, not only protested the funeral of the soldier but also signed it with wrong sentences to hurt the family members. In a free nation, every citizen has a right to free speech but it does not mean that any person or organization can make any kind of statement for others. The Church supported an unethical task with the help of Supreme court by protesting the funeral of soldier Matthew Snyder because it was a private affair and the dead body was brought to the church by his family members. It was morally wrong that the church refused to perform the rituals for the soldier. The father of that dead man would be very hurt that his son could not get a proper funeral instead of serving the country. The court should not have supported the Church for this unethical task but it should have given order for the funeral of that soldier.
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