leenia -

You are welcome to read the biography of Phelps.

Addicted to Hate

(One of more than a dozen places where it's posted, identically, on the web. All sites where it is posted carry a complete description of how and why it is available.)

After you've read it, you won't need to resort to speculation. You won't have to resort to "he may be" whimpering of platitudes, because you will have an opinion. It most likely will be quite close to those expressed by others here.

John