Biblical free speech?

Westboro Baptist Church has made the news again.  This time it’s because they have won their case to protest at military funerals because it is considered free speech.  The Supreme Court voted 8-1 that it is against their 1^st amendment rights to not allow the church (I use that term loosely) to protest at military funerals and the like.  The decision upheld an appeals court ruling that threw out a $5 million judgment to the York County father of a fallen Marine who sued church members after they picketed his son's funeral.

Chief Justice John Roberts said "What Westboro said, in the whole context of how and where it chose to say it, is entitled to 'special protection' under the First Amendment, and that protection cannot be overcome by a jury finding that the picketing was outrageous."  As much as this decision makes me upset, I believe it is the right one.  In other words, just because we don’t like something that others say does not mean that we can stop them from doing it. 

Chief Justice John Roberts explain that the court must protect hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate.  Timothy Nieman, the Harrisburg lawyer who filed the brief supporting Albert Snyder on behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said he understood the justices’ logic, but disagreed with their decision. I think that most Christian people will agree with Nieman.  Just because we don’t like it doesn’t make it wrong.  Bust as my wife always says, “Just because you can do it (Westboro Baptist) doesn’t mean you should.  Protesting a funeral for the purpose of getting your message across is hardly ethical, right, decent, moral, loving, merciful, or doing what Jesus would do – but that doesn’t make it wrong under the constitution.

But I find it interesting that other free speech like street preaching in Harrisburg at a bus stop is not considered free speech but ramblings of a deranged man who must be stopped now.  What the heck is going on?  How come when it comes to free speech issues those who speak against the Word always have their way and those that speak the Word must be stopped?