California IN BRIEF : OAKLAND : Church Wants to Fence Off Prostitutes

A congregation wants to put a little separation between its church and the state of its neighborhood. St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church plans to build a 6-foot-tall, 1,000-foot-long fence around church grounds to keep out prostitutes who have been bringing customers there. The Rev. John Maxwell said that even his 92-year-old mother has found used condoms and wrappers on the steps in front of the rectory where the priests live and in the foliage around the church. “We’ve always had sporadic prostitution, but now it’s gotten way out of hand,” Maxwell said. Vera Brown, a parishioner who works at the church added: “Sometimes they leave clothes, underwear and even stockings out there.” Church members have raised $8,000 so far to put up the $11,000 fence.