Phelps first achieved notoriety through his 'God Hates Fags' campaign that not only encompassed gay people but anyone perceived to be a sympathiser.

His church believes that by disobeying God's injunctions against gay behaviour, America has doomed itself.

Hence the pickets at funerals -- the group has no sympathy for the deceased as they were fighting for a Sodomite nation.

Reaction against the funeral protests has been fierce. States all across America are passing laws forcing the picketers to keep their distance -- and diluting constitutional rights to free speech in the process.

A motorcycle club has also been formed that provides a human shield between the picketers and the grieving families.

The church for its part is unrepentant.

A recent BBC documentary portrayed followers as sure of their convictions as they were harsh against non-believers that did not follow theie form of Calvinism.

Even a venerable figure like Desmond Tutu was damned to burn in hell in their eyes.

Parents involved in their cult showed no qualms about involving young children in their protests -- even when they had no understanding of what they were doing.

One scene in the BBC documentary shows a six-year-old boy holding a placard with the message: 'Thank God for 9/11'.