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Kansas church targets RB High, 4S church

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The Westboro Baptist Church has stated that its members will demonstrate Oct. 16-19 at 28 sites throughout the county, including Maranatha, a nondenominational church in 4S Ranch, and Rancho Bernardo High School.

Westboro’s Web site indicates that it opposes Jews, Catholics, homosexuals and a variety of behaviors its members deem sinful, including abortion, divorce and remarriage.

Since 1991, Westboro Baptist has held more than 41,000 demonstrations in all 50 states, Canada, Jordan and Iraq.

The demonstration at Maranatha Chapel is set for 8-8:30 a.m. Sunday, based on Westboro’s objection to Maranatha’s biblical teachings.

Westboro members will return on Monday, when their announced plans are to demonstrate against abortion and homosexuality outside Rancho Bernardo High from 6:40-7:15 a.m., in an effort to bring “truth” to the students.

Mónica Muñoz, police spokeswoman, said the department was notified by Westboro of its itinerary and during its previous demonstrations in San Diego, “we did not have any trouble.”

She said there are no plans to send police officers to the protest sites unless opponents attend too.

Pastor Troy Dewey at Maranatha Chapel said the 5,000 to 7,000 people who attend its services each weekend are being told by church officials to ignore the demonstrators.

“Their objective is to stir up strife, incite problems and to offend people,” Dewey said, adding the church is in contact with the Sheriff’s Department about the upcoming demonstration.

“This (group) ... preaches hate against homosexuals, Jews, the military and America,” Dewey said. “We wholeheartedly disagree with what they are about.”

Dewey said he thinks Maranatha was targeted because it is a large church that supports the military, Israel and “we believe in what the Bible says, that the Lord does love us. They preach that God hates us, and that’s not true.”

RB High Principal Paul Robinson said he will be notifying parents later this week via Connect Ed about the demonstration and advise them to just ignore the protesters.

“It will be no huge issue, as long as they do not block traffic,” Robinson said, adding the demonstrators can only be on the public sidewalk, not school grounds.

As for why RB High has been targeted, Robinson said there is no known reason since “They spew statistical garbage that makes no sense.”

He said the school’s “high profile” might be one factor and he learned of the “hate group’s” plans via the Anti-Defamation League.

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