Aleteia logoAleteia logoAleteia
Thursday 28 March |
Holy Thursday of the Supper of the Lord
Aleteia logo
Spirituality
separateurCreated with Sketch.

Muslims-Turned-Christian Disrupt Masses in Las Vegas

St. Paul’s Catholic Church

Aidan Wakely-Mulroney

St. Paul's Catholic Church

John Burger - published on 12/11/15

Decry Catholics as idolators, demonstrate outside Catholic school

Please consider a gift for Aleteia!
Help us spread the joy of Christ's victory.
Aleteia depends on your support.

Join our Lenten Campaign 2024.

DONATE NOW

Americans are more fearful about the likelihood of another terrorist attack than at any other time since the weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, the New York Times reports.

So it’s no surprise that Catholics attending Mass in Las Vegas would be rattled by an intrusion of young men who claim to be former Muslims.

The Diocese of Las Vegas confirmed Wednesday that there have been multiple disturbances at several of its properties, and they have been in communication with police about the protests.

The group includes members who identify themselves as former Muslims. But the men were not threatening Mass-goers with jihad. The group, Koosha Las Vegas, warned Catholics that their religion was false and that their “idol worship” was jeopardizing their salvation.

“Based on the information that the protestors have distributed, this group appears to be a Christian group trying to disrupt Catholic services,” a spokesperson for the diocese told Aleteia.

According to KTNV, Koosha Las Vegas has been entering churches, shouting that those present need to repent and filming the acts and posting them on the Internet. Parishioners told KTNV’s Action News that their entry into churches has made them fear for their lives.

Members of the group distribute pamphlets and shout things like, “Repent, and turn to Jesus Christ. Pope is a Satan! Pope is a Satan! Mary statue is a Satan! 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.”

The group also protested outside Bishop Gorman School on Dec. 2, with one man shouting, “If you look at the catechism of the Catholic church and you look at Scripture, you know why God hates this religious system.”

Las Vegas police told Action News that that the group did not appear to be related to any terrorist threat. They also said no arrests were made because no crime was committed.

Bill Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights disagreed.

“The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees religious liberty,” Donohue said in a statement. “If that means anything, it means that people of faith must be free to practice their faith. Moreover, these Nazi-like tactics are prohibited by the Nevada Constitution, the second ordinance of which reads as follows: ‘That perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured, and no inhabitant of said state shall ever be molested, in person or property, on account of his or her mode of religious worship.’

“There are also laws against trespassing, as well as hate crimes statutes,” Donohue concluded.

Tags:
CatholicismIslamTerrorism
Support Aleteia!

Enjoying your time on Aleteia?

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reach more than 20 million unique users per month!

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

Support Aleteia with a gift today!

jour1_V2.gif
Daily prayer
And today we celebrate...




Top 10
See More
Newsletter
Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. Subscribe here.