Bill O'Reilly Pays Fees for Father Suing Westboro Baptist Church

by Michael Small | March 31, 2010 at 12:01 pm

3701 views | 4 Recommendations | 10 comments

Bill O'Reilly to Pay Legal Fees for Albert Snyder, whose Marine Son's Funeral Was Protested by the Westboro Baptist Church

O'Reilly says he will pay the $16,500 dollar legal fees Snyder is being forced to pay for suing the Westboro Baptist Church after they protested his Marine son's funeral.

No. 1 cable news host Bill O'Reilly said Tuesday that he will personally write a check to cover $16,500 in legal costs for the father of a fallen U.S. Marine who sued the members of a church who picketed his son's funeral.

On March 3, 2006, Snyder's son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, died in a non-combat related vehicle accident in Al Anbar province in Iraq.

During the wake that was held after his son's funeral, Snyder turned on the TV to see 1500 members of the church protesting the funeral, as the church is known for garnering attention by protesting high-profile funerals.

Snyder filed a federal lawsuit, and was awarded $11 million dollars for invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. But that was soon overturned, as the U.S. Court of Appeals says the decision went against the church's First Amendment right of expression.

On top of the reversal, Snyder is being forced to pay $16,500 dollars to the church for legal fee expenses.

Mr. O'Reilly called the situation an outrage, saying he wouldn't "let this injustice stand". O'Reilly said he'd personally write a check to Snyder to pay for the legal fees. The Fox News anchor said this case proved just how broken the American system was, and said he'd fully support Snyder, who is taking the case to the American Supreme Court.

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Jo Ann Brown (not verified)

at 12:17 on March 31st, 2010

Thank you Bill for paying this fine for this gentleman. If you did not do it, I was going to find some way to raise the money for him. I regret that these insensitive people use the word Christian. They are an abomination to God. They give God a bad name. I would like to apologize to this grieving father in the name of true Christians who love and appreciate the soldiers who fight and those who have died for this country and the parents who have lost them. My prayers are with him and his family and will do anything he needs to help put this behind him. Thank you again Bill for doing something I would have loved to have done myself but could not. God Bless...

Tom Williamson (not verified)

at 13:31 on March 31st, 2010

Bill-What more can I say but thanks! I'm currently serving in the United States Air Force and was appalled to hear that Mr. Snyder would have to pay the WBC who desicated his sons wake. I applaud you but wonder why there arent more people in America who would step up like you have. The Lance Cpl. died for his country, god bless him!!! Thank you Bill!!! HUA

Kim Pickett (not verified)

at 19:20 on March 31st, 2010

Thank you for stepping up, Bill. The fact that this is even an issue to be debated is deplorable. I have stood in many patriot guard riders lines and seen first hand these idiot protesters at work. We owe our military a debt that can never be repaid. Thank God for them!

John W. (not verified)

at 21:11 on March 31st, 2010

Actually, I'm an Olbermann/Maddow fan, so I rarely find myself in agreement with Mr. O'Reilly about anything. But I find myself 100 percent in agreement with him about this, and I want to commend him for doing the right -- and the humane -- thing. The Westboro Baptist Church is not a "church" in any normally understood sense of the word. It's a family of homophobic, anti-Semitic bullies who hide under a cover of "faith," and whose very existence is an insult to this country and to their religion. If there actually were a god worthy of respect, much less worship, he would have smited this cabal of thugs long ago. Their "protests" would be bad enough at any funeral, but to continue to disrupt the funerals of those who have died in service to this country is just beyond any acceptable sense of decency. I agree that they have a First Amendment right to their noxious beliefs, and they have every right to proclaim them by standing in front of their church and waving their signs as much as they want. But to claim that First Amendment protection extends to allowing them to insult and intimidate the families of fallen soldiers is just despicable. We may have to tolerate their speech, but it doesn't mean we have to tolerate all of their actions.Thanks, again, Bill, for doing the right thing.

Mark Gunn (not verified)

at 04:02 on April 1st, 2010

I've never been a fan of Mr. O'Reilly's, but I have to give props where they are due ! Thank you for your support of this family during an especially hard time for them.Just last night, I lived through the grief of watching life support being ended for a wonderful mother and the devastation that the family goes through.The Westboro Baptist "Church" has the right to free speech to be sure, but they're anything but Christians. I'm a praticing Wiccan and as much drama as I get over my chosen faith, these clowns are a disgrace to TRUE Christians everywhere.I just hope that once the monies are paid, a civil suit is launched against them for inflicting emotional distress and if nothing more, they find themselves facing the same kind of venomous hatred they spew in the name of "Christianity".To Mr. O'Reilly and the Synder family, Blessed Be.

Herman di Claudio (not verified)

at 09:30 on April 1st, 2010

HI Bill thank you for what you done.i would like to help out . so where do i go to give, an i cant belive this is happeing your country, korea war vet thank again bill Herman

Joshua O (not verified)

at 18:37 on April 1st, 2010

Bill First off right on. second What Legal Fees The Are all lawers all the do is thake out a template on the computer and put in the names and dates it takes 5 min. and $1.27 in papper this church is not a church they are a burden on the world I pray for them everyday that wont help because now they made $15,000 to run their hate crimes. instead nobody sue them just ignore them and they will be broke before long and if you want to say something to these people then tell them I am praying for you and may god have mercy on your souls (aka The silent treatment)

Rhonda J Mangus

at 22:07 on April 3rd, 2010

Sorry I missed this, Michael. Would you mind adding the tag Gay Rights to this story so it will also appear on NowPublic Gay Rights Special News Coverage. Thanks!

ers (not verified)

at 08:20 on April 10th, 2010

This money might end the controversy, but not the malice behind the situation. Those "protestors" and their church shouldn't get a dime. Bill should use his influence to get this case to the Supreme Court. Hopefully, people's privacy will be protected by this case. Isn't protection of justifiable rights, like a calm, respectful, orderly funeral of one's son, protected in the Constitution?