Members of a collective shown in online videos storming several Las Vegas-area Catholic churches spoke to 10News' sister station in Las Vegas about the message they are trying to convey.
The group of self-proclaimed ministers says they prefer not to be referred to as a group at all, just "brothers in Christ." They also said the YouTube page Koosha Las Vegas, which features their videos, belongs to only one member of the group and does not speak for the whole body.
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Ron Cardiel, the street minister who spoke to KTNV on behalf of the group, said while they didn't intend to make anyone fear for their lives, anyone living without "the true Jesus" should be afraid.
The videos in question show a group of men entering Catholic churches during mass, telling parishioners they need to repent and turn to Jesus or their religion will not save them.
Several churchgoers called police after they said they feared for their lives in light of recent terror attacks, and the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas confirmed multiple disturbances at several of their properties. Police confirmed at least three disturbances, including events at Our Lady of Las Vegas Catholic Church, St. Viator, and Bishop Gorman.
During a video, the man behind the camera can be heard loudly saying, "Repent and turn to Jesus Christ! Pope is a Satan! Pope is a Satan! Mary statue is a Satan!" as the men interrupt church services and distribute pamphlets.
Cardiel said, "If they're going to be afraid, I'd be afraid of dying without Jesus Christ, and dying in their sins."
He said the group never intended to scare anyone and always leaves when asked, adding that they typically enter the churches before mass begins so as not to interrupt services. He also said the material, however disturbing to some listeners, is something he feels compelled to share.
"They are in jeopardy, OK, they need to be right with God, come to the Biblical Christ. So the language used there is correct. The pope is a Satan, I don't know if he (the man in the video) has an accent, a language barrier, but the Pope is an false prophet," Cardiel said.
In response to people feeling threatened by the display in light of recent terror attacks, Cardiel said, "That's understandable considering what's been going on, but the difference between us and them is we worship the one true God and God is a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and of great kindness."
Cardiel did not clearly state whether he and his fellow ministers would continue entering churches despite the reaction from many people within the Catholic community.
