X

Founder of Westboro Baptist Church Dying in Hospice Facility

The founder of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church, Fred Phelps, is dying at a hospice center in Kansas, according to The Huffington Post. News first broke of Phelps’ condition when his estranged son, Nate Phelps, wrote the following on Facebook:

“I’ve learned that my father, Fred Phelps, Sr., pastor of the “God Hates Fags” Westboro Baptist Church, was ex-communicated from the “church” back in August of 2013. He is now on the edge of death at Midland Hospice house in Topeka, Kansas.

I’m not sure how I feel about this. Terribly ironic that his devotion to his god ends this way. Destroyed by the monster he made.

I feel sad for all the hurt he’s caused so many. I feel sad for those who will lose the grandfather and father they loved. And I’m bitterly angry that my family is blocking the family members who left from seeing him, and saying their good-byes.”

Nate, who left the church and his family in 1976, confirmed to Patheos during an interview that what he wrote on his Facebook page was true.

The church has not acknowledged on any of its social media accounts or its website that its founder is near death and in a hospice facility.

Where can you find the most hospice jobs? Click here.

Jim Vassallo: Jim is a freelance writer based out of the suburbs of Philadelphia in New Jersey. Jim earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and minor in Journalism from Rowan University in 2008. While in school he was the Assistant Sports Director at WGLS for two years and the Sports Director for one year. He also covered the football, baseball, softball and both basketball teams for the school newspaper 'The Whit.' Jim lives in New Jersey with his wife Nicole, son Tony and dog Phoebe.

Follow Jim Vassallo on Google+