The mess that was Our Lady of Las Vegas – even before the pastor was charged with assaluting a parishioner.

Signs of discord within the church, on Alta Drive near Rancho Drive, first surfaced four years ago when members of the church’s sizable Filipino community staged weekly protests outside the church.

They were calling for the removal of the Rev. Robert Petekiewicz because of what they felt were insulting articles published in the church bulletin, the unexplained removal of some parishioners from church activities and other complaints, according to news reports.

Petekiewicz survived the controversy, but more trouble brewed behind the scenes.