Ansel was born on January 3 1791, … 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. They are now married with a baby in Florida. Jaél de Pardo TV Host, Journalist, Writer, Producer. It’s just a divided society, between false religion — the Muslims — and everybody else', The church in Kansas, clearly displaying its warped hate speech, Filmmaker Louis Theroux met Steven for his third BBC2 documentary on the hate group, after first visiting the cult in 2006 and then in 2011, Louis with Steve Drain from the Westboro Baptist Church, Pastor Phelps’s daughter, Shirley Phelps-Roper, 61, was one of the most fanatical church members, but now three of her daughters have turned their back on her and been excommunicated, The cult's founder Pastor Fred Phelps died in 2014, Louis Theroux talks to Lauren Drain about living with the Phelps - The Most Hated Family in America, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Michael Phelps, who retired as the most decorated Olympian in history in 2016, is not holding out much hope for a clean Olympics Games in Tokyo next year. Yet, abruptly, Theroux’s narration immediately calls Shirley a “self-created victim of the hate she had sowed.”. And despite the church's homophobia, he admits to being attracted to women AND men. Listen to music by JAEL on Apple Music. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Happy member of the Most Hated Church in the World who's warning you: if you don't heed His word, then get your own God-Smackin'! This standout moment with Shirley is also one of the few in-depth interactions Theroux seems to have had with members, whom we see chiefly in the midst of their picketing ministry. (RNS) — No single congregation in America has had the kind of recognition, or notoriety, that the Westboro Baptist Church achieved in the 1990s. It made her an internet sensation and she now gives talks, has a book coming out and is about to have a movie made of her life. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. In fact, there is clear evidence that Westboro Baptists have been strategically refashioning their message, rebranding their website and modifying their picket signs to include more about, for instance, Jesus and love. Michael Phelps has admitted that the Covid-19 pandemic is taking a toll on his mental health. Most concretely, Theroux doesn’t bother to fact-check the church’s membership numbers. I’ve queried and listened to Westboro Baptists possibly more “than any other person” who is not part of the group. Steven, now known as Brother Matthias, married church member Jael Phelps in 2012 and the couple has since had three children. Yet in my research I’ve known Sam to show other sides of himself and his Christian ethics when given a chance. The church appears to … The Olympic athlete and his wife Nicole Michele Phelps welcomed their third child into the world—a beautiful baby boy. Virtually shunned since leaving the church, Phelps-Roper yearns for her relatives to join her by rethinking their ideas. After shunning the church, her daughter Meghan, 28, used her inside knowledge to oppose Westboro. (RNS) — With his two previous “Most Hated Family” documentaries, the British-American journalist Louis Theroux has done as much as anyone in the past dozen years to raise the profile of the Westboro Baptist Church. My analysis of 600 WBC sermons from the past 15 years shows how talk about hate and wrath have declined in sermons since Fred Phelps died and love and mercy terms have increased significantly. Now aged 32, Ms Phelps-Roper believes people shouldn’t be made to feel bad about admitting they were wrong about something. You may have found your way here because you’ve seen some of my work on TV or for any number of reasons, either way I’m glad you’re here! Career. Theroux captures Megan’s anguish in tender moments and even, in the film’s most troubling scene, appears to deliberately trigger her pain. J said: “I really don’t believe in my heart that they’re a hate group, in fact I’m pansexual myself. Mathias is now married to Jael Phelps, Pastor Phelps' granddaughter, and has three children. She currently is planning to work with Planting Peace founder Aaron Jackson on what's described as an anti-bullying initiative. Now 30, Libby Phelps Alvarez tells the Post she now supports Planting Peace, a not-for-profit advocacy group which bought a house across the street from Westboro and painted it in rainbow colors. Theroux looks in the right places to discover a deeper story about Westboro Baptists. “We are human beings, we … Now that you know all about Michael Phelps’ net worth, and how he achieved success; here are 3 success lessons we can all learn from Michael Phelps: 1. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily represent those of Religion News Service. DAMNING Britain as the home of decadence and sin, images of The Queen, Gary Glitter and Boy George flash across the screen with the words: God Hates The UK. In a magazine interview, Theroux even predicts that Westboro Baptist Church will shrink. Michael Phelps has another big reason to celebrate today!. While working at the shop, Thrasher ' s editor, Kevin Thatcher, approached Phelps to write a product review column. EVER. Say no and you’re out, Pakistan attempts to prosecute Ahmadi US citizens for digital blasphemy, James Clyburn to propose designating ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ as the national hymn, From the Capitol to critical race theory, white Christians grieve declining hegemony, ‘AKA Jane Roe’ and the humiliation of the pro-life movement. What’s clear from my research is that this “enemy” is more than surviving – it is emerging from a complicated history under the leadership of Phelps, an adversarial Calvinist who was both a civil rights litigator and a harsh anti-gay protester. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Jael Phelps. The film rarely takes viewers beyond the church’s familiar posters by delving into their communal discussions or showing the impact of the protests on members’ personal lives. Earlier this month the BBC aired “Surviving America’s Most Hated Family,” Theroux’s third and latest film on the tiny Topeka, Kan., church that for years gained attention through its street preaching against gays and lesbians, Jews, Catholics, evangelicals, the U.S. military and others. Megan He said: “Mathias came across as somebody who had never really fitted into his old life. Dear readers, Now more than ever, The Stranger depends on your support to help fund our coverage. Grace now regularly attends Friday night Shabbat services at Temple Beth Sholom, a Reform synagogue in Topeka, Kan., where she still catches glimpses of her family as they picket the exterior. The room is small and he has a microphone, but I can still barely hear him. Phelps is a beast when it comes to preparation. He trains everyday, and for long periods of time. Jael Phelps a member of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church protests during the 14th annual Screen Actors Guild awards outside the Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2008 in Los Angeles,... Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images All rights reserved. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 2.3m Followers, 198 Following, 521 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Oliver Phelps (@oliver_phelps) Born in 24 Jan 1793 and died in 17 Sep 1881 Williamsfield, Ohio Jael Phelps Morse What brought Theroux back this time is his apparent curiosity about how the church has changed since the 2014 death of its founder, Fred Phelps Sr. For decades, Phelps was an intimidating, Bible-thumping, headlines-grabbing provocateur, and it’s easy to imagine that Phelps’ decline — when I interviewed him in 2010, he was already in poor health — and his eventual demise could have destabilized the church. 11. Pastor Phelps died in 2014, aged 84, under a dark cloud. Shirley’s pain is no different — and no more about “hate” — than that shared by parents of nonbelieving children shunned by other insular religious groups, such as Amish Christians or ultra-Orthodox Jews. Now 30, Libby Phelps Alvarez tells the Post she now supports Planting Peace, a not-for-profit advocacy group which bought a house across the street from Westboro and painted it in rainbow colors. ... the new convert from Britain was swiftly married to Gramps’ granddaughter Jael Phelps. People Projects Discussions Surnames Theroux allows that “the message of the sermon has mellowed.”. Summary: Jael Holroyd's birthday is 01/28/1985 and is 35 years old. Filmmaker Louis Theroux, left, with Westboro Baptist Church elder Steve Drain with a WBC sign featuring Theroux’s head. Mr Holroyd, who moved to Kansas and in 2012 married Jael Phelps, spoke to Louis Theroux 4 / 11 Mr Holroyd has been re-christened 'Matthias' by the church and now has three children Bradford postal worker Steven Holroyd is the  most unlikely recruit to the US cult notorious for its  homophobic hate speech. #godsVote #Recount” The problem with “Surviving” is that the film spends more time gawking at WBC’s trademark street preaching and little time acquainting us with what most onlookers never see: churchgoers’ actual lives and ideas. Dorothy Day defied definition. Photo courtesy of WBC. Posted by 1 year ago. RELATED: They’re still here: The curious evolution of Westboro Baptist Church, Megan Phelps-Roper during the National Geographic Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton on July 25, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP). A few weeks ago I found a photo on Twitter of Jael at a picket holding a tiny baby. Every kingdom falls.”. I asked him how he could possibly know that the WBC members were the only people bound ... joined the church and married Jael Phelps. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. About; Jobs; Blog; Developers; Guidelines; Privacy; Terms; Help; Report abuse; Help forum She now campaigns to change it from the outside, and Theroux tries to turn her into a case study of surviving a dynamic that is as controversial as Phelps’ ministry. The former postie is  delivering the warped reinvention of its most notorious slogan: God Hates Fags. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. No one would speak to  Louis  about the incident so he visited Fred’s granddaughter,  Rachel Hockenbarger, who has  turned her back on the church. Top row, l-r: Rebekah Phelps-Roper, Libby Phelps, Megan Phelps-Roper Bottom l-r: Jael Phelps, Louis Theroux, and Lauren Drain. One can hardly fault Theroux for not analyzing sermons or listening to Westboro Baptists talk about Scripture. Find top songs and albums by JAEL including Hey Stranger (feat. Fred Phelps announces the first hymn. I friended Jael Phelps, now Jael Holroyd on facebook, she seemed so normal but at the same time is all for what that group stands for , I assume this is her sister. Genealogy for Jael D. Morse (Phelps) (1793 - 1881) family tree on Geni, with over 200 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. What does that say about a nation when they exalt a sodomite like Elton John and call him ‘Sir’. My sexual attractions aren’t limited to any specific gender.”. family. The few exceptions are Theroux’s chats with Jael (Phelps) Holroyd, who talks to him so warily about her British husband that the filmmaker teases her … The church’s eight elders (not seven, as Theroux reports) have also profoundly changed its internal discourse. I do  some hope that something will trigger this complete unravelling of it. She currently is planning to work with Planting Peace founder Aaron Jackson on what's described as an anti-bullying initiative. ... What's trending now. Join Facebook to connect with Jael Phelps and others you may know. Stream ad-free or purchase CD's and MP3s now on Amazon.co.uk. Phelps-Roper left the anti-LGBT+ church when she met her now husband on Twitter and he challenged her beliefs. Megan Phelps-Roper left the Westboro Baptist Church when she met her husband on Twitter. Pastor Fred Phelps, whose bizarre protests have made his tiny church reviled around the world, has a terrifying hold over his congregation. Now a permanent Topeka resident, Mathias has married Jael Phelps, the granddaughter of  Pastor  Phelps, and has three children. He first interviewed her parents and brothers (she was not married at the time). Despite new recruits, Louis found that all was not well at Westboro. My name is Jael Holroyd (nee Phelps); I am a member of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, KS; I am grandaughter to Pastor Fred Phelps & most recently, I am wife to Matthias Holroyd from the UK (also a member of WBC). Now a permanent Topeka resident, Mathias has married Jael Phelps, the granddaughter of Pastor Phelps, and has three children. Despite his title, he never gets close to answering how the group has survived the tensions Phelps fostered. Posted by 1 year ago. Post jobs, find pros, and collaborate commission-free in our professional marketplace. Jael Phelps, a community member on The Stranger. Phelps’s church is well-known throughout the U.S. for extremist anti-gay pickets. And  Mathias isn’t the only new Westboro recruit  to join after seeing Louis’ documentaries. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski). He first visited Westboro in 2006 and returned  in 2011 for America’s Most Hated Family In Crisis. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our, They’re still here: The curious evolution of Westboro Baptist Church. (Hillel Gray is an assistant teaching professor in comparative religion, with a project on “Empathy and the Religious ‘Enemy,'” at Miami University of Ohio. I sit down, and a smiling, older man walks by and shows me which book we will be singing out of, a piece of information I probably could have gleaned for myself since it was the only book that wasn’t a Bible. Since then, too, the church had lost quite a few young adults, most notably Megan Phelps-Roper, Phelps’ granddaughter, who walked away from the tight-knit community in 2012. Fred Phelps, Shirley Phelps, Steeve Drain and Jael Phelps have all used the “A” word as a cuss word. Speaking about his estranged dad, Mathias said: “He doesn’t have a use to me any more, he’s not leading me down the path to hell.”. By Morgan Evans. Why frame the film around Megan’s surviving trauma without showing the nuanced portrait of her former church that she evidently desires? Instead, Theroux is more interested in building solidarity with his audience against a mythic enemy. Encounters that assume good faith, she said in a compelling TED talk, could win over family. Michael Phelps in 2020. " These family members got their training from Fred Phelps and now they have his spirit. Steven, who is now known as Mathias and is a former mailman, flew over to Topeka and married Pastor Phelps' granddaughter Jael Phelps after becoming interested in the church after watching Theroux's previous films air on BBC. Jael Phelps said in a 2011 interview that she and the other members of the WBC tauntingly and publicly burned a copy of the Quran while being scolded by a Muslim man, ... Phelps-Alvarez is now an advocate for gay equality. Megan’s brother Sam Phelps is also shown in a combative, rather unproductive exchange with Theroux. 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