The funeral of widely-liked and well-known movie critic Roger Ebert was held Monday at the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago at 10 a.m.
He passed away Thursday at age 70, two days after he made a public statement that his cancer had returned and he would be taking what he called "a leave of presence."
Around 100 people gathered to celebrate Ebert's life, including his wife Chaz, his family, former classmates, and film critic Matt Fagerholm, who stood first in the line that snaked outside Holy Name Cathedral.
The Westboro Baptist Church had been threatening to show up to his funeral and picket since making an official statement. Yet initial reports have not confirmed their presence, most news services indicate the group did not make enough of a dent to warrant any type of coverage.
The Kansas-based organization known for their anti-homosexual sentiments and tendency to picket stated they would protest his funeral because Ebert was a "f-g enabler" who "mock[ed] the faithful servants of God," in a recent news release.
According to the Huffington Post, the Church put out a statement bashing the movie critic.
"Now the famed critic is in a new jurisdiction, where he can see the blessings poured out on God's humble servants in heaven, from his seat of eternal torment & sorrow in Hell!" it said. "It's too late for the fool Roger Ebert! WBC will continue to bind those who still live in Doomed America to God's eternal laws & word, so you, like Roger, are without excuse!"
Read the full statement here.
Westboro Baptist Church members have also protested the funerals of Steve Jobs, Michael Jackson and Matthew Shepard. They were ordered to protest a specific distance away, so as not to upset funeral-goers.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
