Fired-up groups from opposite edges of the political spectrum, both describing themselves as "militant," could soon face off in metro Detroit.

Church Militant identifies as Catholic and broadcasts messages that are pro-life and seen by some as anti-feminist and anti-gay. Michigan People's Defense Network describes itself as "anti-racist" and "anti-fascist," and offering a "militant response to defend immigrants and refugees from arrest and deportation."

The Detroit-based network plans to hold a news conference at 5 p.m. Friday outside Church Militant's headquarters in Ferndale, before a protest outside its Men's Conference a week later in Sterling Heights.

In news releases this week, the organizations hurled put-downs and accused each other of advocating brutality. Both say that helping people is central to their missions.

Related:

How a right-wing Ferndale fringe group is building a multimedia empire

Church Militant's third annual Men's Conference begins at 9 a.m. Aug. 5 at the Wyndham Garden Sterling Heights, with sessions such as the Illogic of Atheism and 2+2= God, according to its website. The Michigan People's Defense Network plans to be there at 8:30 a.m., peacefully picketing.

"Many of the church's points are lifted from or are identical to 'men's rights' discourse, which focuses on reducing women's agency and reproductive rights. 'Men's rights' is a thinly veiled defense of rape culture," according to the defense network's news release.

Church Militant, which operates as a news website but is not formally affiliated with the Catholic Church, responded with a news release and a article headlined, "Leftist thugs try to shut down Church Militant Men's Conference."

The website indicates the conference will proceed as scheduled, and supporters are discouraged from organizing a counter-protest. Instead, it says, they should stay home and pray for the success of the conference.

"Church Militant is not a hate group; (Michigan People's Defense Network) is the real hate group, trying to intimidate religious organizations into silence and shut down a conference meant to help men become better husbands, fathers, sons and brothers by fostering the virtues of humility, charity and sacrifice," according to the Church Militant release.

It says the defense network's allegations of "white male supremacy" are contradicted by Church Militant's employment of first-generation immigrants and the appointment of female department heads.

The Michigan People's Defense Network was started in December in response to the election of President Donald Trump, "to counter the rise of racist hate crimes under the Trump administration and to defend people who are at risk of violence from those who would commit hate crimes," member Avele Hawkins said.

Hawkins said the network has about 100 members.

"As the radical Christian right rises in America, having supported Donald Trump's campaign of hatred against the most marginalized, it is more vital than ever that the community stands against hate draped in a cross," the defense network said in a news release.

In its article, Church Militant identifies the defense network, with symbols of crossed baseball bats and clinched fists, as using language "consistent with Antifa (Anti-fascist) thuggery."

Hawkins said the network's movement is peaceful and in defense of marginalized groups.

Church Militant has been in operation for about 12 years.

"The pendulum has swung back in our favor. There has been a great paradigm shift. We are living in historic times, both in temporal and in the spiritual spheres. Come be a part of it," urges the website for the Men's Conference.

Contact Robert Allen on Twitter @rallenMI or rallen@freepress.com