Westboro Church Founder Fred Phelps Reported Dying

Fred Phelps is reported to be near death.

Phelps is the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, the group notorious for showing up at funerals bearing signs with statements like, "God Hates Fags" and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers."

The Huffington Post reports that Phelps's estranged son Nate broke the news and also claimed his father had been excommunicated from his own church.  The younger Phelps reported having mixed feelings about his father's imminent demise.

In addition to their unwelcome appearance at funerals, the Westboro Church  has frequently celebrated the deaths of notable people as vengeance from God for societal tolerance of gays.

Response has mixed; while some seem to rejoice at Phelps's impending death, others, while acknowledging the evils of the Westboro Church's actions, have called for compassion and forgiveness.

[Source: Huffington Post]