The Westboro Baptist Church says it will picket the memorial service of the late Rev. Robert H. Schuller on April 20.
The group often protests American soldiers' funerals, and has staged nearly 55,000 protests. In a press release posted to its website, the group says Schuller, a televangelist and author, "should have been hated."
"He called himself a Bible preacher; he should have been hated of the world, not loved; and he should have preached about hell," the release reads.
The 88-year-old
Schuller died Thursday, having been diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2013. He was the host of the "Hour of Power" television program from 1970-2010, and he is the founder of the Crystal Cathedral located in Garden Grove, California.
The Westboro Baptist Church claims Schuller promoted "tolerance" and "acceptance" in terms of gay marriage.
Schuller's church broke apart at the seams in recent years because of family disagreements and financial problems.
Fred Phelps started the Westboro Baptist Church in the 1950s. Its membership is said to be somewhere around 100, and its messages have caused many to classify it as a hate group, meaning it is not part of any mainstream Baptist organization.
Phelps died at age 84 last year.
The group also threatened to protest the funerals of the
Boston Marathon bombing victims, but it backed down and did not show up.
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