Catholics in the Las Vegas area say they’ve endured aggressive protesters bolting into church during mass.
The protesters yell: “Stop worshipping to the idols! Idols not going to save you! You need Jesus Christ! You need the father, the son, and the holy spirit.”
Koosha Las Vegas, a group of former Muslims turned Christian, have filmed the acts and posted the videos on the Internet, according to KTNV Action News.
Parishioners we talked to say they were initially scared because of the recent climate of terrorism, and the group makes clear many members are Muslims turned Christian. Although they’re preaching the word of Christ to other Christians, to be told “your religion is not going to save you”, clearly audible on video, they said was unsettling.
KTNV reports the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas has confirmed there have been multiple incidents.
The same group posted a protest outside Bishop Gorman Catholic School on Dec. 2. In that video, a man can be seen telling students, “If you look at the catechism of the Catholic church and you look at scripture, you know why god hates this religious system.”
Police told KTNV they have looked into the incidents and don’t believe they are tied to terrorism. No arrests have been made because the police say no crime has been committed.
However, Action News Crime & Safety Expert Randy Sutton disagrees with the police and called the incidents include “really unusual behavior.”
Sutton says, first of all, he disagrees with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department saying there was no crime committed. He says the men violated a Nevada statute, “disturbing a religious meeting.” Sutton says they should absolutely be charged with a crime.
“It’s a misdemeanor crime but it is a crime nonetheless, it’s on the books for just types of situations like this. There are statues that could be utilized to end this type of behavior,” said Sutton.
A statement from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights’ Bill Donohue said, “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.”