Fred Phelps #fundie cnn.com
Church founder Fred Phelps said the church would appeal the decision, adding it would "take about five minutes to reverse that thing."
"This will elevate me to something important," Phelps told reporters. "This was an act of futility."
Later, Phelps said the case was about "putting a preacher on trial for what he preaches."
"All it was, was a protestation by the government of the United States against the word of God. They don't want me preaching that God is punishing the country by killing their servicemen."