A federal judge has slapped down the Westboro Baptist Church’s request to intervene in a Kansas same-sex marriage case. The WBC is appealing.

Late last month the Topeka, Kansas-basedÂ Westboro Baptist Church, which calls itself God Hates Fags, filed a motion to join Gov. Sam Brownback, Attorney General Derek Schmidt,Â and the State of Kansas in defending a ban on same-sex marriage in federal court.

A federal court judge has responded firmly, denying the motion. The WBC has now filed an appeal.

AsÂ The New Civil Rights Movement reported, the WBC’s court filing calls same-sex marriage “the number one moral issue facing this nation,” and says it is “constitutional folly to suggest that a sinful-behavior-based union should be a union that is afforded civil rights and granted the imprimatur of respectability by a license from the government.” It also warns the government that legalizing same-sex marriage “violates its duty of religious neutrality; and puts itself in the position of imposing sin on the citizens, to the great detriment and harm of the health and welfare of the citizenry.”Â Westboro Baptist Church claims it “has a vital interest in what the courts rule regarding this issue, as it directly impacts their religious practices.”

â€œSame-sex marriage will destroy Kansas,â€ the WBC’s brief states. â€œIf this Court requires Kansas officials to treat what God has called abominable as something to be respected, revered, and blessed with the seal-of-approval of the government, that will cross a final line with God. The harm that will befall this state, when the condign destructive wrath of God pours out on Kansans is the ultimate harm to the health, welfare and safety of the people.â€

In his response,Â United States District JudgeÂ Daniel Crabtree notes that because the WBC “has not carried its burden to showÂ that the currentÂ defendants will not represent its interest adequately, the Court denies WBC motion to interveneÂ as a matter of right without reaching theÂ remaining factors.”

But the WBC’s two-page appeal to the 10th Circuit is anything but convincing.

“The record to date reflectsÂ a focus onÂ proceduralÂ technicalities,Â withoutÂ soÂ muchÂ asÂ aÂ mention Â of the great moral wrongÂ and resultantÂ destruction at Godâ€™s hand thatÂ will ensue when the flood gate of sameÂ sex marriage is opened inÂ Kansas,” the Westboro Baptist Church appeal states. “The fierceness of the same sex marriageÂ agenda,Â coupled with the political correctness that chokes virtually every segment of society,Â renders it unlikely that anyone besides WBC will truly vigorously defend againstÂ the unholy matrimony plaintiffs propose.”

Meanwhile, theÂ 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late Friday denied the State’s request for anÂ emergency stay pending appealÂ on the Kansas ruling, meaning same-sex couples can begin marrying Tuesday after 5:00 PM or Wednesday, barring any further interventions.

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Judge Crabtree’s responseÂ and WBC’s appeal via Equality Case Files