Ah...so they are here to give freedom of speech a bad name. Intolerable, to twist and use soldiers' deaths as a platform to prove that they have the freedom to denigrate members of the human community. Sickeningly ironic. Go away, half-wit neanderthals. You blaspheme the God you say you stand for. See you Tuesday. You have free speech, but so do I.

What a wonderful show of support it would be if the High School band showed up to drown out their venom.

great idea! I'm thinking anyone interested can also bring a bedsheet. stand with your backs to them and hold up the bedsheets end to end as a screen. Do as much as we can to prevent the family and churchgoers from having to look at this sorry excuse for christianity.

we can't really negotiate getting the school band involved. but we all have rights and freedom of speech, don't we? ;D

Our ecumenical clergy and churches will be in touch with the senior priest at St. Mary's this morning as well as the town police to assist with forming a peaceful barrier so the family and friends do not have to be subjected to such disrespect by a hate group masquerading as a church. (Rev. Ted Newcomb , Congregational Church of Mansfield, An Open & Affirming United Church of Christ Congregation)

Thank you Rev. Newcomb. More appreciated than you know!

This man was a proud Husband, Father, and son of the community that stepped up to serve his country proudly to protect the rights we all enjoy every day. The intolerance and hate these people spew is not Christianity, it is disgusting! The Hate and prejudice this group displays every day needs to be stopped. God rest Lieutenant Colonel Michael Greenes Soul.... May he Rest in Peace and may his family take some comfort in knowing the majority of the community, Town and Country appreciate him and his service!

Well said. He is loved! We have no room for this trash in Mansfield. Shove out, WBC.

Of course these cowards announce this to leave little time for people to organize.

Aside from any adult attending as a barrier, I hope every high school kid walks out of school that morning and marches to St Mary's, can't punish them all.

Since the WBC protest takes place Tuesday morning at 8:15 at St Mary's and it is school vacation week, I think it would be wonderful of every family in town to line the streets of Mansfield from the funeral home all the way to St Mary's Church! It doesn't take organizing, just be there in an area that works for you! I will be with my 10 year old son!

Can i get a "h3// YES!" Line the street, and follow the progression, on the sidewalk, down the street, and fall in in front of the church. No room for WBC. They can stand in the gutter where they belong.

Friends, I've been in contact with the Mansfield Police to gain their guidance on this as we work to organize a respectful witness for love, tolerance, and comfort for Lt. Col. Greene's family even as we stand in opposition to hateful attitudes. I also expect to hear back from Monsignor Stephen Avila at St. Mary's Parish. Word has now gone out to the ecumenical churches in town through our Clergy Association. We plan to convene interested folks here at the Congregational Church on West Street by the South Common on Sunday Feb. 17th at 2pm to provide opportunity for conversation and organizing around peace principles as we cannot allow hate to go unchallenged. But the means of resistance must be in concert with the peaceful end that we seek. For this reason it's helpful to have a gathering in advance to coordinate and talk through strategies we will employ esp. as they relate to legal protocols. If you or anyone you know may be interested, please do come down on Sunday at 2pm and we'll look forward to putting all of our heads together out of respect for Lt. Col. Greene and his family even as we provide a witness for common decency. Thank you. Rev. Ted Newcomb, Pastor, Congregational Church of Mansfield.

I will try my best to be there. It breaks my heart - these people have nothing better to do with their time. This so-called church should be thanking the Greene Family for their sacrifice. Lt. Greene gave his life to protect our freedoms- one of the benefits they receive for his sacrifice.

SHAME ON YOU Mansfield Patch !!!

You people have some nerve to get the family and friends upset with worry when there isn't a press release or schedule date to to confirm !!!

SMARTEN UP AND DO THE RESEARCH BEFORE YOU UPSET EVERYONE !!!

These people are cowards they hide behind a piece of paper called The Declaration of Independence this what is wrong with the world today forget the police why put them in the middle they feel the same way we foo. Every man ,father , son , uncle , nephew friend should meet this group head on and make sure they never come back to Mansfield again I know violence is not always the answer but in this disgraceful act towards a hero I feel it be for the best . God Bless this family I'm so damn mad and I don't even know this family. Good luck

Tom it's on their website, you need to relax and do your own research.

Tom
Don't be an idiot. It's clear everyone did their research before posting.

These Blowhards don't know what's going to hit them on Tuesday. Bringing a sheet to block these punk "Christians" from disturbing an American hero that sacrificed his life

Allrightie, guys. Let's remember that sometimes they don't show up. You also have to remember that there's no talking to these people. They've been chugging their version of kool-aid for awhile now. Don't waste too much time on them. We can show up and show that the LOOOOOOOVE in this town's a lot bigger than their hate.

Has anyone called the MA chapter of the Patriot Guard?

And talk to your mayor or town council to enact a temporary bylaw that banners and signs at rallies or protests can be no larger that 8½X11, call it a "visual pollution" ordinance!

Following up on Rev. Newcomb's comment, yes, there was a WBC flyer identifying this funeral, along with 3 others, though investigation shows they may not show up. There is not going to be a procession from the funeral home to St. Mary's, and the layout at St. Mary's would make it difficult for them. The parking lot is private property, the sidewalk on the church side is likely to be snow covered and there is not public sidewalk across the street. I will try to make the meeting tomorrow if I can get back to town in time.

Always_Write, that's the kind of thing they're looking for. If they show up Tuesday, I don't aim to give them what they want. They want confrontation. They are BETTING on ANYONE to DARE challenge their right to free speech. It's a no-win argument. They will win on that round. This is why you don't engage people like this- it's like pi$$ing in the wind. Turn your back to them, turn your face and care towards those tho deserve the support. WBC will not likely be the ones to instigate violence. THEY will raise peoples' hackles enough through words and presence to attempt to incite US to violence- and then they can go rub it in victims' faces as they go free and we would be the ones in legal trouble. Are you that easily swayed? Stand our ground, that's all we have to do.

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BTW, Always_Write, not to say i disagree with your sentiment at all ;) ...just don't think this is the correct application of it in an occasion such as this.

If any of their members died, would they proclaim that God wanted it that way?
How about these "wolves in sheeps clothing" apply their sick logic to everything evil or tragic that ever happens. Therefore that logic would make God evil.
These people are really sick!