Worshippers clutching AR-15 rifles hold church commitment

Worshippers clutching AR-15 rifles have drunk holy wine and exchanged wedding vows in a commitment ceremony at a Pennsylvania-based church.

The event at the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary in Newfoundland led a nearby school to cancel classes.

Rev. Sean Moon has placed his “rod of iron” by the constitution to protect it pic.twitter.com/YwYjBuH3wK

— Eric Deabill (@ericdeabill) February 28, 2018

The Rev Sean Moon, who leads the church, said in a prayer that God gave people the right to bear arms.

Mr Moon is the son of the Rev Sun Myung Moon, a self-proclaimed messiah who founded the Unification Church, often described as a cult.

The sanctuary believes the AR-15 symbolises the "rod of iron" in the book of Revelation, and encouraged couples to bring the weapons to the ceremony.

An AR-15 was used in Valentine's Day mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.

Outside the church a protester held a sign calling the group an "armed cult".

PA