Also unavailable this morning were several 'sister sites' affiliated with the church. Members of the WBC church are known for their strident anti-gay views and for protests at funerals of slain military personnel and others.

A letter released last week claiming to be from the Anonymous group had warned WBC members that the church's web site would be attacked if members did not 'cease and desist' their protest activities. The open letter was , a site used by Anonymous members to upload news on the group's activities.

However, a on the site earlier this week said the initial warning was not posted by Anonymous members, and that the threat was a hoax.

It was not immediately clear whethwe Anoymous caused the denial of serice attack on the church Web site this morning. There has nbeen no response yet to a Computerworld request for comment from Anonymous members.

The WBC also didn't immediately return a request for comment.