header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
September 19
1863 - Gen. Edward F. Beale loans money to A.A. Hudson and Oliver P. Robbins to erect toll house in Newhall Pass [story]
toll house


[UU of SCV] – Members of Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, Kansas, are set to descend on Santa Clarita this Sunday, Feb. 22.

Westboro is notorious for denigrating homosexuals, female clergy and others they deem socially objectionable, justifying their intolerance with narrowly selected and interpreted biblical passages. According to their website they are scheduled to picket five local houses of worship, beginning at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Parish at 8 a.m., then continuing to Grace Baptist, St. Stephen’s Episcopal and Santa Clarita United Methodist before ending at The Church on the Way at 11 a.m.

“One of the dilemmas with defending freedom of expression is you sometimes have to defend expression that is morally offensive and hurtful,” said Peter Farriday, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Clarita Valley. “Still, my heart goes out to the haters. For only people who have been profoundly wounded feel the need to lessen their own spiritual distress by turning their self-loathing outward. One would hope to reach and heal their tortured spirits, but in the absence of that, I want to make clear that our religious community stands with the churches targeted for picketing—and all those whom Westboro seeks to devalue—against intolerance and exclusion; and for acceptance, mercy and inclusive love.”

File photo: A Westboro demonstration.

File photo: A Westboro demonstration.

Some people are organizing to counter Westboro’s presence, planning to go to the targeted churches and link arms with their backs to the protesters, a symbol of turning their backs on hatred and turning their hearts toward those under fire. (A note of caution: It’s been said that Westboro folks try to provoke people, then sue anyone who so much as brushes up against one of them.)

“Compassion was the final test of religious legitimacy for Jesus, and all the great spiritual teachers,” says Farriday. “Westboro has flunked royally.”

Unitarian Universalist services are held each Sunday at 10:30 AM at the SCV Senior Center, 22900 Market St., in Newhall.  For directions and information, visit www.UUofSCV.org or call 661-254-7866.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

23 Comments

  1. “Some people are organizing to counter Westboro’s presence…” Anyone know who to get in touch with to join with the counter protestors?

  2. Daniel Konz says:

    They shoulda gone to Daytona to protest the 500 if they wanted attention..!

    Most everyone I know will be to drunk at home watching it on TV to notice or even care..!

  3. Beth Blok says:

    Erin, not sure if you saw this.

  4. Erin King says:

    No, I wasn’t. Thank you Beth Blok for sharing it

  5. Erin King says:

    I am and always will be a VERY proud UU. If someone wants to hate me for it then let them rage on. It won’t change me or my love for my faith.

  6. Erin King says:

    I am and always will be a VERY proud UU. If someone wants to hate me for it then let them rage on. It won’t change me or my love for my faith.

  7. Remember that in case like this, how these individuals behave reflects their internal struggles….their inner demons if you will. How others react will reflect theirs. It makes me sad to see so many people nowadays suffering internally…and in turn seeking ways to inflict their pain on others. It appears as if their religious faith is not enough, on both ends (those publicly announcing on street corners their struggles…and those who are angered by it). Life is too precious and short to only focus on pain and anger. Very sad.

  8. Dorene Tapp says:

    Westboro is a bunch of fools. Ignore them and they will leave.

  9. David Barlavi, Esq. says:

    For your counter-protesting pleasure:

    https://m.facebook.com/events/850570494984910?acontext=%7B“ref”%3A2%2C”ref_dashboard_filter”%3A”upcoming”%7D&aref=2&arefdashboardfilter=upcoming&ref=bookmark

  10. Yes I saw it they are freaks

  11. If these people hate America so much….why don’t they leave?!?! No one is keeping them here!! And walking on the flag of the USA……I want to quote Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue”

Leave a Comment


SCV NONPROFIT LINKS

NONPROFIT HEADLINES
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center welcomes back Jim Curry for an evening concert celebrating the music of John Denver on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at Bella Vida.
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024
The California Institute of the Arts will present the "NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball", Friday, Oct. 4, 7-11 p.m. at 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355.
Friday, Sep 13, 2024
The 30th Annual Hart of the West Pow Wow will be held at William S. Hart Regional Park on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6.
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024
The Acton Agua Dulce Arts Council is hosting “Spooktacular”, a Halloween-themed art exhibition, at the TAADAA Art Gallery, Saturday, Sept. 14 through Sunday, Oct. 27.
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024
The Santa Clarita Elks Lodge is hosting a Car and Bike Show Saturday, Sept. 14, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the lodge in Canyon Country.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1863 - Gen. Edward F. Beale loans money to A.A. Hudson and Oliver P. Robbins to erect toll house in Newhall Pass [story]
toll house
The Counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino today announced the opening of multiple joint Local Assistance Centers to assist residents impacted by the Bridge and Line Fires.
L.A., San Bernardino Counties to Open Joint Local Assistance Centers for Residents Impacted by Bridge and Line Fires
Valencia Gynecology Associates, owned by longtime Santa Clarita Valley OB-GYN physician Don Nishiguchi, MD, has joined the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital network. 
Valencia Gynecology Assoc. Joins Henry Mayo Network
JCI Santa Clarita is proud to announce the upcoming Veteran’s Resource Fair, scheduled to take place on Sept. 21 at William S. Hart Park. 
Sept. 21: JCI Invites All Veterans to Upcoming Resource Fair
A "friendies" field tournament  is being  hosted by the Saugus Instrumental Music program, with support from Valencia High, later this month. 
Sept. 21: All Valley Showcase Comes to Valencia High
Public, member-supported 88.5 FM The SoCal Sound, Southern California’s leading Triple-A (adult album alternative) format radio station has announced the lineup for its inaugural “Year-End Bash” taking place on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Dec. 7: CSUN Owned 88.5-FM The SoCal Sound Announces “Year End Bash” Lineup featuring Ben Gibbard
The Master's University cross-country teams continued their successful 2024 campaigns with strong finishes at the BIOLA Invitational on Friday, Sept. 13 at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton, Calif.
TMU Women Win, Men Place Second at XC Invitational
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
The biology department at California State University, Northridge has stayed committed to promoting STEM research carried out by K-12 students and teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
CSUN Student Research Journal Celebrates 28 Years of Inspiring Scientific Imagination
Did you know the SCVEDC has an interactive, online tool that provides themed virtual tours of the amazing features the community has to offer? 
Take a Virtual Tour of the Santa Clarita Valley
California Institute of the Arts alum and visionary filmmaker Tim Burton (Film/Video 1979) was honored with the 2,788th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
CalArts Alum Tim Burton Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center welcomes back Jim Curry for an evening concert celebrating the music of John Denver on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at Bella Vida.
Oct. 5: SCV Senior Center Welcomes Jim Curry ‘Take Me Home’
As part of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency's ongoing commitment to ensuring local groundwater quality and reliability, the SCV Water recently began construction on a new treatment facility to remove perchlorate and volatile organic compounds at Well 205 in Valencia.
SCV Water Begins New Water Treatment Project in Valencia
Get ready to set sail at the Pirates SENSES Block Party, presented by the city of Santa Clarita, Thursday, Sept 19 from 7-10 p.m. on main street in Old Town Newhall.
Sept. 19: SENSES Pirate Block Party
No. 21 College of the Canyons football team knocked off No. 5 Fullerton College 29-13 on Saturday night behind a stifling defensive effort and five field goals from Luis Rodriguez.
No. 21 Canyons Knocks Off No. 5 Fullerton 29-13
Six of the seven Foothill League Varsity football teams begin league play Friday night, Sept. 20.
Foothill League Football Begins for SCV Teams
The California Institute of the Arts will present the "NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball", Friday, Oct. 4, 7-11 p.m. at 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355.
Oct. 4: NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball at Cal Arts
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating two human cases of a rare parasitic infection, Baylisascaris procyonis, also known as raccoon roundworm.
Public Health Investigating Disease Spread from Animals to Humans
1879 - First official Newhall School building erected near Walnut & Ninth streets [story]
First Newhall School
The city of Santa Clarita is hosting Make A Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 26 and is looking for enthusiastic residents to volunteer for various projects that benefit local nonprofits, as well as the city.
Oct. 26: Volunteers Needed for Make a Difference Day
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and PathPoint announced the graduation of Aiden Land and Andrew Mendence from the Project SEARCH internship program.
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, PathPoint Celebrate Grad Interns
The William S. Hart Union High School District has announced upcoming community information meetings about Learning Post Academy Independent Study School, Thursday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 19.
Sept. 18-19: Learning Post Academy Online Information Meetings
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Wednesday, Sept. 18, 5 p.m. in open session to interview and appoint a new trustee for Area 5.
Sept. 18: COC Board to Interview, Appoint Area 5 Trustee
SCVNews.com