Members of the Kansas church infamous for staging homophobic demonstrations at the funerals of fallen troops plan to picket Sunday at four Lehigh Valley churches.

Westboro Baptist Church is targeting Cathedral Church of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Paul's Anglican Church in

and Asbury Church and First Baptist Church in

, according to a news release on the church website.

The release refers to the Lehigh Valley houses of worship as "whorehouses masquerading as churches."

According to the release, the demonstrations are scheduled as follows:

8:30-9 a.m., St. Paul's Anglican Church, 2510 Livingston St.

9:05-9:30 a.m., Asbury Church, 1533 Springhouse Road

9:50-10 a.m., Cathedral Church of St. Catherine of Siena, 210 N. 18th St.

10:30-11 a.m., First Baptist Church, 1808 N. 19th St.

Lt. John Christman said South Whitehall police have spoken about Westboro's plans with pastors from the township churches. Extra uniformed and plainclothes officers will be on patrol during the demonstrations.

"If there's any problem, we'll intervene, but otherwise we'll let them do what they do," he said.

The lieutenant noted the Lehigh Valley's churches seem like an "unusual target" for Westboro.

"They don't always show up so this may be all for nothing," he said. "We're hoping they don't show."

scheduled from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

"The intention of this counter-protest is not to support or oppose the political or doctrinal positions of the churches being targeted by WBC. Its purpose is to exhibit a general disapproval of WBC's presence in our community and to support any of our neighbors who are hurt or offended by their vile rhetoric," a message on the event page says.

A call to the church was not immediately returned.

Contact Lehigh County suburbs reporter Precious Petty at 484-894-3854 or ppetty@express-times.com.



