Westminster, Maryland (CNN) -- Matthew Snyder's funeral was to be a private affair, with family and friends gathering at a Catholic church to mourn the 20-year-old Marine who died a hero in Iraq, serving his country. But Matt's father says his grief was compounded by anger and helplessness because of about a dozen unwanted visitors, a fringe group standing at the center of a constitutional showdown. "I was just shocked that any individual could do this to another human being," Albert Snyder told CNN. "I mean, it was inhuman." He speaks of members of a small Kansas church who have gained nationwide attention for protesting loudly at funerals of U.S. service members, denouncing homosexuality. Both sides will now receive a Supreme Court hearing over their competing constitutional rights. Oral arguments are Wednesday morning, with a final ruling some months away.
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Westboro Baptist Church brings anti-gay message to soldiers' funerals
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Father of a Marine who died a hero in Iraq sued; the case is now before U.S. Supreme Court
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The church defends its "highly disliked" speech as "needing protection"
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One other lawsuit against the church could reach the high court next year
"@placeholder's speech is in a format showing it is religious commentary," said church members in their brief to the Supreme Court.