Shirley Phelps-Roper

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Shirley Phelps-Roper

Born Shirley Lynn Phelps
October 31, 1957 (1957-10-31) (age 50)
Topeka, Kansas
Residence Southwest Churchill Road, Topeka, Kansas
Other names Shirl
Employers Phelps Chartered
Known for Aggressive religious preaching and controversial picketing campaigns with the WBC
Religious beliefs Baptist
Spouse Brent Roper
Children Samuel Phelps-Roper (illegitimate)
Joshua Phelps-Roper (estranged)
Margy Phelps-Roper
Rebekah Phelps-Roper
Isaiah Phelps-Roper
Zacharias Phelps-Roper
Grace Phelps-Roper
Gabriel Phelps-Roper
Jonah Phelps-Roper
Noah Phelps-Roper
Luke Phelps-Roper
Parents Fred Phelps
Margie Simms

Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper (born October 31, 1957) is the third of eight daughters of Fred Phelps, the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, a controversial group known for its vocal anti-homosexual activism. She received both a B.A. in Criminal Justice and J.D. degree from Washburn University, and currently practices with Phelps Chartered, the Phelps family's law firm.[1] She has received media coverage on BBC, Fox News, The Howard Stern Show, The Adam Carolla Show in addition to numerous appearances on podcasts including Nobody Likes Onions, Acorns & Merlot and Political Inversion for her group's aggressive preaching and controversial campaigns such as the picketing the funerals of AIDS victims with signs such as "God hates fags" and funeral processions for American soldiers killed in combat.[2]

Phelps-Roper is the wife of Brent D. Roper and a mother of 11 children. Her oldest child, Sam, is not Roper's son by birth, and her second child, Josh, is estranged from the church. Besides her father Fred, she has been the most public spokesperson of the Westboro Baptist Church and answers many of the e-mails sent to the church in a column called "Dear Shirley." [3]

Contents

Publicity

She has received increased media coverage following numerous television appearances, many of which have been on Fox News Channel, including interviews on Hannity & Colmes.[4][5] and with Julie Banderas. She has appeared on The Tyra Banks Show with two of her daughters, Megan Phelps-Roper and Rebekah Phelps-Roper.[6] Phelps-Roper also frequently appeared on the Adam Carolla Show and The Howard Stern Show on Sirius Satellite Radio to debate people such as born-again Christian Stephen Baldwin, and Playboy Playmates. She has appeared on 88.7FM WNHU with Zack Rosen, and has appeared on Stephen Nolan's Late Show on BBC Radio Five Live on 12 November 2006, alongside British journalist Matthew Parris.

Her family later became the subject of a program produced by the BBC called The Most Hated Family in America; a documentary presented by Louis Theroux,[2] which later spawned several other interviews in the UK with Phelps-Roper, including a comical interview on April 12, 2007 with controversial talkSPORT host James Whale, who was called a pervert by Phelps-Roper after he suggested that she send her daughter over to him.

Phelps-Roper was arrested on June 5, 2007 on suspicion of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Police alleged that she allowed her son to trample an American flag while protesting the funeral of a soldier in Bellevue, Nebraska, which is a misdemeanor in the state.[7] Phelps-Roper has announced her intent to challenge the constitutionality of the Nebraska statute, which may violate the First Amendment to the United States Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court in Texas v. Johnson and United States v. Eichman.[8] The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska has announced they are assisting Phelps-Roper in her legal defense.[9]; although she has claimed in her blog that she will decline their help because of their support of gay rights. In addition to the charge of violating Nebraska's flag desecration statute, Phelps-Roper is accused of disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and negligent child abuse; the charge of abuse is based upon a theory that she placed her son in danger by having him in the middle of an offensive protest.[10] Phelps-Roper is scheduled to appear in court on July 28, 2008 and August 1, 2008 on motions to quash the charges.[11]

College campuses around the country have become concerned by the teachings of Shirley Phelps-Roper, and many college newspapers -- such as the University of New Haven's The Charger Bulletin -- have interviewed her.

Illegitimate Son

Keith Allen revealed in his documentary on the WBC, Keith Allen Will Burn In Hell, that Phelps-Roper has an illegitimate son, Sam, after it was uncovered by a local media student.[12]

References

  1. ^ Phelps Chartered bio of Shirley Phelps-Roper
  2. ^ a b "The Most Hated Family in America"; bbc.co.uk; March 30, 2007
  3. ^ Dear Shirley
  4. ^ Video of Sean Hannity's interview with Phelps-Roper
  5. ^ Transcript of Hannity & Colmes interview with Phelps-Roper
  6. ^ Phelps Daughters on The Tyra Banks Show
  7. ^ "Phelps-Roper Arrested in Nebraska"; wibw.com
  8. ^ "Funeral protester faces charges after child stomps on flag"; siouxcityjournal.com
  9. ^ "ACLU Nebraska Announces Entry into Flag Desecration Case"; ACLU Nebraska Press Release of June 8, 2007
  10. ^ " Prosecutor details what's behind flag desecration charge; siouxcityjournal.com
  11. ^ Based upon the case information for Phelps-Roper in Sarpy County at the Nebraska Jusicial Branch's Multi-Court Case Calendar
  12. ^ Adams, Guy; "Serious documentary maker? Is Keith Allen having a laugh?"; The Independent; June 21, 2007

External links