How does the Westboro Baptist Church decide what funerals to picket?

I ask because Tulsa news station KOTV reported Saturday

that the church would picket the services for Carissa Kelm, 20, of Moore, Okla.

Usually the church protests the funerals of celebrities or members of the military because those services get the most media attention. Kelm, however, is neither in the military nor a celebrity.

Kelm died in a sledding accident. A truck was pulling her sled; it threw her off and she hit a metal post.

Sorry, did I say “accident?” On second thought, this could not have merely been a mistake by Kelm or the truck driver! No, obviously Kelm died because the United States refuses to kill homosexuals!

Specifically, God killed Kelm “for Oklahoma’s sins in teaching rebellion against him and persecuting his people,” the church’s website says.

I completely abhor the WBC’s views on homosexuality. Why should I hate anyone for being gay? Their sexual preferences cause no harm to me. Let people love whomever they love.

I take extra criticism to the WBC’s belief that homosexuality is the worst sin of all. Who made that decision, and how?

The Bible condemns homosexuality four times: Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9; and 1 Timothy 1:10. Meanwhile, the Bible condemns idolatry 18 times. Does that make idolatry a worse sin? What criteria are we using?

I thought the Ten Commandments were the most imperative of all biblical laws. Lots of people defy the fourth commandment by working on Sundays. Thousands of innocent people are dying in wars and genocides around the world, contradicting the sixth. Half of Americans’ first marriages end in divorce, violating the seventh.

Homosexuality is worse than all of these? Please. I think so-called “Bible thumpers,” those who wish everyone in the world followed the Bible, should think about which biblical values they prioritize.

Almost two-fifths of the world population does not have access to adequate sanitation. One-eighth is without safe drinking water. Twenty three percent of all deaths in industrialized nations are from preventable causes. To me, all these things pose a greater threat to God’s creation than homosexuality ever will.

For Christians looking to Scripture in order to enact God’s plan for humanity, why not start with those on Earth who need healing? God wants to anoint believers with the power to heal others. In Matthew 10:8, Jesus said, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”

The Christian belief is that God created us all, so Christians should do what they can to save the lives of the people God created. Of course, people of any religion (or lack thereof) should contribute to health improvement efforts. Those lives should be of utmost importance.

Once we significantly reduce the preventable death rate, then WBC members can tell me that the United States should kill homosexuals. Of course, they will still be idiotic bigots.