Wendy Dio updated the official Dio Facebook page with the following status. This comes as a response to Westboro Baptist Church who have the intentions to boycott Dio's memorial service:

"Ronnie hates prejudice and violence!!! We need to turn the other cheek on these people that ONLY know how to hate someone they didn't even know. We only know how to love someone that we do know!"

Westboro Baptist Church has claimed that it is planning to picket the public memorial of Ronnie James Dio, who died this month from stomach cancer.

The infamous church from Kansas, who have a history of well-documented hatred towards homosexuals, are planning to protest at the memorial in Hollywood on May 30, citing that the singer is a "Satan worshiper."

In a statement released on Thursday, May 20, the church said the ex- RAIBOW / BLACK SABBATH singer used his status and platform to "teach rebellion against God, in the form of glorying atheism, promoting the devil hand sign and other such idolatries."

The statement also read, "The arrogant God-hating fool changed his name from Padavona to Dio (meaning "God" in Italian). His BLACK SABBATH fans worshiped him as a god. He stood idly by & watched his niece, Gen Padavona, become a filthy porn star. God's promises are true, including his promise to punish the wicked forever."

Source: www.Spinner.Com