By: Paul P. Jesep*/TRT Columnist—
The Satanic Temple of New York, dedicated to the wisdom and philosophy of Lucifer, will celebrate a “Pink Mass” over the grave of Rev. Fred Phelps Sr., Westboro Baptist Church founder and notorious homophobic clergyman. Phelps, the man long associated with the phrase “God Hates Fags,” died March 20. Purportedly, the Pink Mass will make him a homosexual in the afterlife.
As reported in the Huffington Post, the Temple celebrated a Pink Mass another time: over the grave of Rev. Phelps’s mother. The Temple believes it made her spirit a lesbian.
“After having two same-sex couples (one male, one female) engage in homoerotic activity at the grave site, we declared Fred Phelps’s mother a post-mortem homosexual conversion,” said Lucien Greaves, Temple leader. [pullquote]“After having two same-sex couples (one male, one female) engage in homoerotic activity at the grave site, we declared Fred Phelps’s mother a post-mortem homosexual conversion,” said Lucien Greaves, Temple leader.[/pullquote]
“At the time, I predicted that Fred hadn’t too much longer till he would pass, and I stated—in a direct tweet … that I would be presiding over Fred’s own Pink Mass before too long. As I have made a promise to a dying man, I fully intend to do my very best to see it through, and the pomp and circumstance of this Pink Mass will surely far, far exceed that of the original event in Meridian, Mississippi” where Phelps’s mother is buried.
Part of the Temple’s mission includes encouraging “benevolence and empathy among all people. In addition, we embrace practical common sense …” Satanism is, according to the group’s website, “not mindless abandon and depravity, but a philosophy that drives us to lead fruitful and dignified, epicurean lives. Satan, the symbolic force of design that would urge humanity toward refined pleasures of the Arts and Sciences.” Two of the Temple’s tenets include taking care “never to distort scientific facts to fit our beliefs,” and every tenant is “designed to inspire nobility in action and thought. The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail …”
AM I MISSING SOMETHING?
Independent of the contradictions in the above statements as they relate to making a dead man gay, is the Temple homophobic? Assuming for discussion purposes the Pink Mass doesn’t “distort scientific facts” involving the casting of spells and is not violating the “spirit of compassion” and succeeds, will Phelps be as mean-spirited in the afterlife as he was in the world of the living? Will he become a self-hating gay man who makes LGBTQ spirits even more miserable than he made some during his angry, troubled life?
Rev. Phelps spent his life not as a Christian teaching the world to love more, judge less and build community, but as a deeply flawed, spiritually wounded individual who merits pity more than anything. This does not excuse bad behavior. [pullquote] Rev. Phelps spent his life not as a Christian teaching the world to love more, judge less and build community, but as a deeply flawed, spiritually wounded individual who merits pity more than anything. This does not excuse bad behavior. [/pullquote]
However, how is anyone who perceived Rev. Phelps a vulgar and insensitive man any better for reacting in the same poisonous manner he lived his life?
The world does not need more negative energy! The world needs more individuals with patience and fortitude to channel and convert bad energy into good.
Rev. Phelps has died. Pray for him. Yes, pray his spirit may rest in peace. Pray his soul goes on to be cleansed by a holy goodness where there is no fear, hate or ignorance. Let’s not fuel his worldly, negative energy in the afterlife. There’s already too much hateful energy in the cosmos.
*Paul is an author, attorney and a seminary trained, ordained priest in greater Albany, NY. He is founder of CorporateChaplaincy.biz, a firm committed to the spiritual wellness of professionals.
