HACKERS DENY ANTI-GAY CHURCH THREAT

A hacker group has denied a claim by the notorious Westboro Baptist Church, which is internationally known for its outrageously homophobic campaigns, that it threatened to attack the Church’s website.

The Kansas-based Church claimed last week that the group, named Anonymous, had threatened in a letter to bring down its site if it did not “cease the conduction & promotion of all your bigoted operations & doctrines”.

The Church in response urged the “anonymous coward cry-baby hackers” to “bring it!”

Now, a statement by Anonymous denies that it sent the letter to the Church, suggesting that Westboro manufactured the letter as a publicity stunt.

“Our best guess is that you heard about us on that newfangled TV of yours and thought we might be some good money for your little church,” said the group in a statement addressed to the Church.

It further said that while it may disagree with the Church’s “cynical exploitation of… human rights for monetary gain” it supported its right to express its opinions.

The Westboro Baptist Church, run by Phred Phelps and his family, is known for its virulently anti-gay campaigns, picketing at gay friendly events and even demonstrating at funerals of US soldiers who were killed in action.