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Former Westboro Baptist member Nate Phelps tells Alan why they believe everyone is going to hell.
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Whenever there's a tragedy.
The people who try to capitalize on it and make hey would -- get publicity.
In the worst possible way for the folks at the west grove Baptist Church headed by Fred Phelps.
Joining us now is Nate Phelps the son of Freddie is former west Borough Baptist minister.
And you've been speaking out against the -- inning of sandy hook victims' funerals.
Personally they -- another program I I interviewed your -- a few times he hung up on me.
When -- -- -- glitches they had your sister in studio Shirley Phelps roper.
Her -- like I don't -- -- bigger pummeling.
-- -- Can you explain to me it's almost everybody uses familiar with the tactics that your family has -- -- your your strange have been strange for a long time what are they do this.
-- -- And a million that the diet try to do.
Got ocean I'm I don't a lot of rumors about the tension in my experience grown up there was that.
You know he's sincere about it he obviously believes they're the only people left earlier.
You were saying.
That there are here to.
Do -- preparation for the return of Christ.
But this idea that.
You know people who are gay deserve to go to hell soldiers -- -- -- -- -- go to help the kids Seward.
Slaughtered in Newtown deserve to go to hell what's -- about.
That's just bet that but -- -- Who what I considered to be that the natural consequence of believing.
That.
-- -- ideology or theology that -- god is.
Absolutely.
On the troops.
Can it has created.
You know the universe and and the human kind.
For his own pleasure and can do whatever you -- it doesn't matter what it must think.
Because just -- we just live -- Why would they all these people be condemned to hell.
Because that's what god wants.
It it's that are simple.
And -- we -- on hello just the people in the Phelps family who go to the -- for a Baptist Church.
Yeah I know everybody's going to -- that's that's pretty much what they conclude there's fear of god and kinship to.
No because of work and your partner into NG to go to heaven then you'll find a way to west Borough Baptist Church at this point chin.
And though the only people who can be saved -- the people who go to the west for Baptist Church.
-- pretty much and then course currently.
I need plus percent of -- or -- -- but.
Both let me I don't mean to -- mean by asking this but.
Your father and your sister or they mentally ill.
I think my -- -- My sister just -- -- since we were little kids Sheen.
Was considered history written she used to and -- beside -- and related and so person or -- -- insanity.
My father's.
And and went and what how would you characterizes.
His mental state or mental illness what.
Well from the violence in the in the bizarre behavior that we grew up with I would I would call him -- -- -- are -- -- cycle -- -- but you know he has those characteristics of a lack of empathy and -- Deliberate cruelty towards others I potential.
You know -- look -- up in the past I would say that he pitched enough of those.
Those symptoms to be.
Social.
You -- you had an abusive childhood.
Well I was extremely violent or not there physically abusive physically appreciate -- here it is all of our -- And Jamal did you -- -- -- sit together.
Larry yes she didn't have a choice and it whoa whoa did amateurs or she couldn't launch could leave.
Well we -- know what point when I was about 67 years old she left.
Stayed with her sister for -- three days and obviously we're back because at that point in time -- I think two of the most.
And kids and if she didn't have.
-- -- you know ability to our that would support that kind of so.
Due back for that and then there's artistry it -- psychological and emotional abuse.
That.
That theology missiles my father.
People on us me.
I would say she didn't have a choice.
Issue and they together now.
-- are there.
And an issue of his ilk in terms of and believe all this stuff and -- -- she she kind of got sucked into his mindset.
Yeah it's hard to say because it's been thirty some years I always the least imagine that my mother.
Was -- inclined -- a kinder gentler interpretation the level that.
You know the stuff that's out there today she stopped the same rhetoric and she at least.
All appearances is 21.
You left when you're eighteen.
Not -- make you prepared had to do you get the strength to do that at such a young age.
Know -- life I never considered district ground shortly you know I felt like guilt and then not so -- should go to just -- there were -- not.
Violence directed towards me and there are some tough questions that I didn't belong there -- the -- that situation wasn't going to be good for me.
We can't.
Relish the first three knowledge that -- -- -- -- Known.
Was able to -- with my Brothers.
Mother in law.
And from there you know it's been about five years -- Get -- -- my life and finally shutting them -- in Southern California.
I think that -- remarkable courage and strength -- the age of eighteen to defy your family your parents need to grow up with sort of new life for yourself not knowing what the future holds the uncertainty.
It's amazing -- you do something like that.
Well -- I just -- -- used to but nobody.
-- I -- but that's what we -- it child to leave.
Not -- -- a broad market laughter that was the that was the first real sense that I had at that option even existed because we were so controlled by him that.
You know to think for yourself close was courted a challenge because it just there there was no.
Since that that -- -- -- There's -- children had an extra order also when he left with.
I realize I could and certain planet when I was about sixteen and half.
So now you have -- you've had no contact with your family for all these years know.
And any attempt to reach out and either part.
Well that's part of that holds control system there's -- league -- to compare him to eternal damnation and and you're ostracized from the church and so that was so.
And the force of by saying that -- anybody that environment tries to.
Communicate -- That there got a kick out church as well also it was -- forced and I know better -- trying to reach out to them based my.
Here's how many people -- in that church.
I would say that there somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty now and -- -- -- felt since.
46.
Into the other for -- published their buildings.
During The Who came out there about -- secure go to -- of the video you saw the video you're not.
Into that kind of activity and -- to do.
On a bus for about Christian and was convinced that they were.
The chosen ones and so it -- from Florida.
To join -- church.
Well.
-- -- they get publicity every time there's one of these heinous.
Tragedies and I stuff.
One AT and review your dad or surely they -- -- why and why should the media give them more tents at what they want right they want that media attention.
I'd rather -- and that's why so glad you came on because I -- I struggled to understand them and it also about me why the media rushes and I thought it was interesting story at first who -- these people god hates fags.
You know sounds interesting.
But -- -- give them 34 times.
It's the same thing over and every right.
It is at the back to what I shouldn't be getting on -- is they they operate on this this trust assumption that.
They're here to -- the way.
And one of those prerequisites to -- return this for every human honored you're here and be condemned -- By this true that they have they really believe that.
They really believe you know what it's like -- -- you simply.
You know -- a part of that hole.
-- there was got to take a break -- what a huge hole that and I'd love to hear about that viciousness.
From your perspective when we get back if you.
And Allen comes out when they Phelps who -- the son of Fred -- for the -- -- -- Baptist Church who left.
The church and his family at the age of eighteen.
That I -- forty years ago 38 years ago.
I'm not -- well you know certified.
-- -- -- -- -- age of their -- You said you had them up further craziness to impart to us.
Before -- all right what I -- in mind.
Well there's many it.
They go to book of revelation and there's a couple of other books in the old judgment that supposedly talk about the end times.
And they can cobble together their own interpretation of that so virtual like I told you that they believed it.
They have to be creative and come -- at least -- it is much visibility and and they can so they can.
Basically get the word after every living soul.
Because that's necessary for Christ return and and then they believe that they have to.
Several years ago they started picketing the Jewish community.
Specifically because of other -- they have is that -- 144000.
Jews have to be.
Convicted if you will eventually.
Called out of Israel so they've been harassing them.
To -- and and you know they're there and they've -- a few things after the renowned and suggesting that there descending further into this this.
At a closed off and -- The other talk about the -- and up in Jordan Lebanon those can change in the value of Moses I think -- -- So there's a lot of you know when you get close -- -- that system and and no new information can command.
If you trying to get this.
What I refer to as intellectual inbreeding.
And this is this which are bound to come up with scissors is increasing thinking.
And to -- it's reality.
There's it occurred to him your dad and the others there that -- with all the publicity they get they still have only a handful of members.
And if they were that appealing to anybody others would have joined on -- You know they don't care that is very they don't want you know that there's -- two.
Language in the Bible talks about only they're being a remnant that is -- -- so as far as are concerned if you were the better.
But with the flip side of that is that none of them know for sure whether -- saying so that kind of living in this constant state of anxiety about -- they're doing and not too pleased.
Do your father's 8384 now right -- -- in good physical how -- we know.
Well as far as I can tell he still go -- but I don't know how how LTD -- he certainly seems -- reached.
I'm pretty dramatically in the last fifteen to twenty years so.
You do you have so an inside source -- to know what's going on.
Not not inside -- not you know just keep playing my idea appear open to what's going on there and then -- interpreted through my own.
Understanding of what it was so it but I -- -- so you let -- -- The you just say I love the idea of a father.
I can't change that there was enough from the relationship there wasn't enough positive nurture.
Leadership look -- little.
And is that something you've been able to handle emotionally from ever focused on -- -- withers it's still something that you know the -- and never get over stuff like that.
Well it's been there's been a lot of years going to counseling and been.
Actually -- -- -- important -- geology degree as well and had to go through that process they called you know the processor morning.
Hasn't been in reality match what happens I'd lost my entire -- so.
Unfortunately.
Part of all that is you kind of buildup to shoot this so hardness yeah.
And try to avoid duty of the emotion that was -- come -- -- -- time but -- -- -- -- time -- -- -- -- -- family.
I was married for 23 years -- -- now and I'm in their relationship don't.
Why the issue with your dad and his church -- engage the guy hates thanks thing -- is what put him on the -- why was that.
The -- lead with that.
Well -- I think it's a combination -- first -- -- growing up there we had a very clear understanding that homosexuality it was a it was a special kind of people because.
Then the field in the Castro captured -- that speech to a my father interpreted to mean that it was assume that you couldn't recover from.
Since so Bubba and you can't -- -- not true either directions the love affection shall.
He has always.
Portrayed that as the particularly nasty -- Then I think it was also effective it has become an issue you know -- we've we've started fighting back back -- After -- That the incident did in New York practical each of these and it was Stonewall.
Don't always so I think -- so late sixties actually.
Still -- so so and then you know started getting some traction so it was it was a high.
From highly visible issued by the time the early -- children and so it just was a good fit for him start didn't.
A lot of publicity so.
-- -- Stonewall -- we're -- June 28 1969.
And doing the Stonewall.
-- -- -- so what do you want and you know value of -- coming forward talking about this.
Ultimately.
You'd like to get publicity did to kind of shed light on them is that your goal at this point.
Giants tried to counter some of the the negative impact or have a special on the gay community.
So I started speaking mountains portability -- communion.
-- a lot of you yourself straight.
You us and and I don't mean to -- announces that.
-- -- a -- question you know people are gonna wonder about that.
But you.
Well in the beginning it was quite an action the very loose.
Kind of -- in the spotlight.
I -- -- I was striving to have been southeast British Columbia and picked up the journalism student and found out who are close by action shouldn't.
And wrote an article that.
That prompted computer question -- speak.
-- it was the response I got people reaching out sure and you just stick to really truly be good from the violence standpoint -- from the religious extremism employed there or this people -- towards the gay community so.
It just seemed like a natural.
Progression from -- Just start to working in support of those posters groups.
