The Most Hated Family in America

The Most Hated Family in America is a 2007 BBC documentary film written and presented by Louis Theroux about the family at the core of the Westboro Baptist Church. The organization was led by Fred Phelps who has since died and located in Topeka, Kansas. Westboro Baptist Church members believe that the United States government is immoral due to its tolerance of homosexuality in addition, they protest at funerals of U.S. military killed in action with signs that display text such as God Hates Fags and Thank God for Dead Soldiers. With a BBC film crew, Theroux travelled to Kansas to spend time with members of the church and interview its leadership. In the documentary, church members are shown protesting at funerals of U.S. soldiers. Theroux interviews church leadership including Fred Phelps and Shirley PhelpsRoper.

The documentary focuses on the Westboro Baptist Church, headed by Fred Phelps and based in Topeka, Kansas. Born in 1929 in Meridian, Mississippi, Phelps conducts himself under the belief that he is a prophet chosen by God to preach his message of hate. Phelps was ordained a Southern Baptist in 1947. The Westboro Baptist Church was started by Phelps in 1955. Members of the church meet in Phelpss residence the majority of the groups adherents are his family. Phelps received an associates degree from John Muir Junior College in 1951, a bachelors degree in 1962 and a degree in law in 1964 from Washburn University. He formed a crusade for righteousness, attempting to abolish Jim Crow laws in Topeka.In 1991 when a local park started to serve as a meeting place for homosexual men, Phelps began to protest against homosexuality. Phelps subsequently enlarged the scope of his activities and formed protests in areas where civil rights were being debated for LGBT people. Phelps received criticism in 1998 when he repeatedly exclaimed Matt is in hell during the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a man murdered for being homosexual. ........

Source: Wikipedia