Fringe Christian group sneaks across border to disrupt bus victim's funeral

by Mike McIntyre, Winnipeg Free Press

Members of a U.S. fringe group crossed the border into Canada overnight and are hiding somewhere in Manitoba, preparing to picket Tim McLean Jr.'s funeral, the Winnipeg man murdered and decapitated on a Greyhound bus last week, the group's spokesperson claimed Friday.

Canadian border authorities had stopped a separate group from entering Thursday, but Westboro Baptist Church spokeswoman Shirley Phelps-Roper said a second group managed to sneak through by sending identifying items separately by courier.

"They were looking for leaflets, which we don't do, and signs, which we do, but we have Federal Express," said Ms. Phelps-Roper. "Our guys are safely tucked away."

Earlier this week, the church -- an organization branded by some as a hate group and infamous for protesting the funerals of slain American soldiers -- announced it would picket McLean's funeral to let Canadians know that his decapitation was God's response to Canadian policies enabling abortion, homosexuality and adultery.

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day's office had sent an alert to border patrol to "look out" for people with signs and pamphlets that fit the hateful messages that the church promotes and to keep them out of the country.

Ms. Phelps-Roper, 50, said she also received a phone call Friday morning from an RCMP officer who warned that their "God Hates Canada" placards could be against Canadian hate laws. She also scoffed at plans by some Winnipeg residents to stage a protective counter-protest against the Westboro militants saying: "God looks out for us."

Amidst the cacophony, McLean's family quietly went about final funeral preparations Friday morning for McLean's "celebration of life" service scheduled for Saturday at in Winnipeg.

The family has also asked donations in McLean's memory be sent instead of flowers to TDCanada Trust. They plan to use the money for charitable causes "dear to Timothy's heart," according to his obituary published in the Winnipeg Free Press Thursday.

"He loved soccer, football, motorbikes, and generally anything that would get him into dirt and trouble," read the obituary. "Everywhere he went, he brought light and joy... From your first breath, you were loved beyond imagination."

Along with his parents, aunts and uncles, McLean was also survived by four sisters and two brothers.

McLean, 22, was murdered and beheaded in the back of a Greyhound bus that was rolling across Manitoba toward Winnipeg.

Vincent Li, 40, a recent immigrant to Canada from China, has been charged with second degree murder. It's alleged Li stabbed McLean repeatedly with a large knife, then cut off the man's head and carried it to the front of the bus. The court has ordered a forensic psychological assessment of Li.

The "Reverend" Phelps of Westboro Baptist "Church", Topeka, KS

To see more of what "Reverend" Phelps has to say visit his website:
"GodHatesFags.com"