Ex-pastor of gay-hating church close to death, says estranged son • Fred Phelps Sr gravely ill at hospice in Topeka, Kansas• Westboro Baptist Church used ‘God hates fags’ slogan Martin Pengelly in New York theguardian.com Pastor Fred Phelps Sr displays provocative placards in Laramie, Wyoming in April 1999. Photograph: David Zabulowski/AP Fred Phelps Sr, once pastor of the infamously intolerant Westboro Baptist Church, is close to death, according to his son. Nathan Phelps, who has been estranged from his father for 30 years,posted a statement on Facebook which said: “I’ve learned that my father, Fred Phelps Sr, pastor of the ‘God Hates … Continue reading God Hates Pastor Fred Phelps close to death!