A Topeka church group that pickets military funerals drops plans to protest funerals of five Amish girls fatally shot in Pennsylvania this week.

Instead, members of the Westboro Baptist Church issued a statement today saying a representative will appear on a nationally
syndicated radio talk show.

The web site of show host Mike Gallagher indicated the group was
offered an hour of airtime Thursday in exchange for dropping the planned demonstration.

Members of the church regularly picket military funerals, saying that U.S. servicemen and women are dying overseas because God is displeased with the nation's tolerance of homosexuals.

The church says it blames Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell for the deaths of the Amish children because of comments he made about its group on national TV several months ago.

Rendell said, "They're insane,"' when asked about the group's
statement.