PROVIDENCE — La Salle Academy senior Matt Motta was determined to let love triumph over hate when he had heard a group from Kansas was set to spread its message of intolerance in Rhode Island last week.
Motta, of Cranston, teamed up with classmate Dan Squizzero and they both formed a Facebook cause page to denounce the Westboro Baptist Church's doctrine of hate and rally at the State House for Rhode Island teens against the Kansas church.
Motta said he was proud of his peers at La Salle and other high schools as his group rallied peacefully on Smith Street across the street from the eight Westboro pickets. He said about 40 students from La Salle appeared at the rally.
"It's one thing for one person to have an idea, but when you share values and an idea is manifested it's a tribute to the legal system to spread a message. The great thing about La Salle is kids go into the classroom, and then act on what we're taught," said Motta.
Motta, a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston, and Squizzero, a parishioner of St. Ann Church in Cranston were able to draw more than 1,700 people to their Facebook Web site in protest of Westboro Baptist Church's hateful message.
"La Salle kids are encouraged to fight for what we believe in," said Motta, who is set to attend Wesleyan College in Middletown, Conn. "I had lots of friends who were concerned Westboro Baptist Church was coming to Rhode Island and they just don't hate homosexuals," said Motta.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church shares that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the natural law. ... Under no circumstances can they be approved." (Catechism No. 2357). The catechism also states that "every sign of unjust discrimination in that regard should be avoided. (Catechism No. 2358).
Shirley Phelps-Roper led the series of pickets from Westboro. Phelps, 51, is the daughter of the church's pastor Fred Phelps.
Phelps-Roper said the other Westboro pickets were relatives including her 13-year-old son Gabriel. The group's signs displayed hate toward the gay community, Jews, Israel and Catholics.
Phelps-Roper said she was at the State House as a servant of God as she had an American and Israeli flag wrapped around her waist. She said a Jewish man put the Israeli flag on her during the group's stop at the Jewish Federation on the city's East Side.
Phelps-Roper said she was upset over the reaction her pickets received at East Providence High School and the Jewish Federation on Friday afternoon. "The students screamed and demonstrated and didn't think before they reacted. There were Jews of every stripe at the Jewish Federation," said Phelps.
She continued to lambaste Jews, and said the protesters who were denouncing Westboro "are rebels who are going to hell."
The mother of 11 then emphatically said she "was teaching her children to be servants of God."
Jerilyn Sawyer, a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Help Church in Burrillville, said she couldn't believe the signs Phelps-Roper's Westboro group was displaying. "I think this is one thing we can all agree on. It's awkward these people have such radical views, and what they are saying is outrageous," said Sawyer.
Kassondra Cloos, a classmate of Motta's at La Salle, said she was sad over the message Westboro is spreading.
"I know they have the right to spread their message. I don't agree with the approach. Their message is hate. It's unfortunate for the kid with the sign growing up with a mindset of hate," said Cloos, who lives in Pawtucket, and is a parishioner of St. Raymond Church in Providence.
Westboro's visit to Rhode Island gave Motta, Squizzero, Cloos and their peers from La Salle a chance to spread compassion and faith through reason outside the classroom.
"People signed up for this cause for many reasons, and this message of peace needs to be heard. We started with a small group of four or five people, and then we had 20 people. I had no idea we would have this many people," said Squizzero.
Motta's aunt, Diane Giarrusso of Johnston, attended the rally to ensure her nephew's safety.
"It's refreshing that this generation is expressing themselves, and speaking against hate," said Giarrusso.
Giarrusso said she felt sorry for groups such as Westboro Baptist Church. "I have to have compassion for people like Westboro Baptist Church. Hate is a toxic thing to promote," she said.
