Donations pour in for father of fallen Marine - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Donations pour in for father of fallen Marine

BALTIMORE — Donations are pouring in for a fallen Marine’s father who was ordered to pay the court costs of an anti-gay church he’s been battling.

Albert Snyder of York, Pa., appeared Thursday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” He says it was insulting that the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered him to pay $16,510 in court costs to Fred Phelps, pastor of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan.

Westboro members picketed the Maryland funeral of Snyder’s son, Matthew, who died in Iraq in 2006. The church contends U.S. military deaths are God’s punishment for tolerance of homosexuality. Albert Snyder sued the church, but the appeals court ruled against him. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case.

The father’s attorney Sean Summers says any extra money would be given to veterans.

Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly has pledged to pay the court costs. The American Legion is also soliciting donations for Snyder.