Protesters disrupt Catholic Masses in Las Vegas — VIDEO
In response to a string of protests that have disrupted Mass services across the valley, the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas wonders why we all can't just get along.
The Christian group Koosha Las Vegas began confronting parishioners in October and have hit about three churches, Metro officer Mike Brambila said at a press conference Friday.
The group has posted videos of encounters on its YouTube channel. This week one showed members walking into a Mass, clad in jeans and T-shirts with slogans such as "Jesus is your only hope" and "repent or perish." After handing out pamphlets, one protester began shouting over an exasperated priest.
"Pope is a Satan!," the man shouts. "Mary statue is a Satan, is a dead religion. Stop worshiping to the idols!"
In the videos, Koosha Las Vegas members object to mainstays of the Catholic religion, including the Pope, the Virgin Mary and delivery of the Eucharist by a priest.
"I'm going to break this statue one day in Jesus' name," the same man says in another video posted on Nov. 1.
The Review-Journal reached out to the group for comment, but received no reply. The protesters, men in their 20s and 30s, appear in other videos holding large signs and preaching at UNLV, area high schools and the Las Vegas Strip. It isn't clear how many people are in the group.
Brambila refused to say whether the protesters had been identified, citing an ongoing investigation. He said Metro's Community Oriented Policing units are working closely with the Diocese on the matter. Police did not indicate there have been any assaults or that any property has been vandalized.
If caught, the men will likely face misdemeanor charges for disrupting a church service, although other charges, including trespassing, might apply as well, police said.
Friday's press conference came a day after the New York-based Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights called on supporters to demand increased protection from Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo.
"The cops have thus far not made any arrests, claiming no law has been broken," Catholic League President Bill Donohue wrote in a prepared statement. "We are asking the Office of The Sheriff at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to arrest any person who storms a Catholic church, or any house of worship. They need to be prosecuted with the full force of the law."
Steve Meriweather, a security consultant for the Diocese, said the church's main concern is keeping parishioners safe.
Koosha Las Vegas' message might be offensive to Catholic church-goers, but Meriweather said it's best to stay calm, document the experience on your phone and call the police if necessary if it happens to you.
"It could incite you or anger you," he said. "That's why we're sending that message not to confront them."
He said the protesters have a right to hold different beliefs, but they shouldn't be disrupting services.
Especially so close to the Christmas holiday.
"The message is that we all need to get along," he said.
Contact Wesley Juhl at wjuhl@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0391. Find him on Twitter: @WesJuhl
