Posted on 02/20/2006 12:19:39 PM PST by Abathar
The 5,000-acre tomato field in southwestern Florida sure doesn't look like heaven. Bulldozers scrape the land flat while clusters of Porta Pottis signal an undeniable earthiness. But soon a massive cathedral will rise from this barren spot. Reaching 100 feet in the air behind a 65-foot crucifix, the Oratory will anchor Ave Maria, a whole new town and Roman Catholic university 30 miles east of Naples. Ground was officially broken last week, and the plan is to build 11,000 homes—likely drawing families who already hold the church at the center of their lives.
For Tom Monaghan, the devout Catholic who founded Domino's Pizza and is now bankrolling most of the initial $400 million cost of the project, Ave Maria is the culmination of a lifetime devoted to spreading his own strict interpretation of Catholicism. Though he says nonbelievers are welcome, Monaghan clearly wants the community to embody his conservative values. He controls all the commercial real estate in town (along with his developing partner, Barron Collier Cos.) and is asking pharmacies not to carry contraceptives. If forced to choose between two otherwise comparable drugstores, Barron Collier would favor the one that honored that request, says its president and CEO, Paul Marinelli. Discussing his life as a millionaire Catholic who puts his money where his faith is, Monaghan says: "I believe all of history is just one big battle between good and evil. I don't want to be on the sidelines."
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Well, he's putting his money where his faith is. It will be interesting to see how this development works out. A lot of such planned communities don't do as well as expected.
I'd love to see it work, but "utopian communities" of every strype have a lackluster track history. Still, cheers, bravo and God Bless!
No one's being forced to live there, and there's no law saying you must only patronize the pharmacy in your town.
Only the ACLU and Planned Parenthood would find something they don't like about people, of their own free will, deciding to live in this type of conservative community.
The funny thing is, most communities were probably much like this in the 40s and early 50s - no contraception available in pharmacies (other than condoms, and those only behind the counter), no abortion services, and shops within walking distance.
He has 2 things going for him: location (Florida) and home prices below the average in the area.
I think it's Naples/Ft Myers area that's the fastest growing area in the US over the past few years.
Glad he's got the courage to put his money behind his beliefs, but it's a shame he's doing it out in an area that ought to be Everglades.
Wait 'til the residents find that the 30 miles into Naples takes them an hour and a half to drive!
view=views
I think the deelopers may be surprised by the number of non-Catholics who would want to live in such a community.
"The funny thing is, most communities were probably much like this in the 40s and early 50s - no contraception available in pharmacies (other than condoms, and those only behind the counter), no abortion services, and shops within walking distance.
"
Yup, they were. Of course, the Pill hadn't been invented yet. The pharmacist could, though, give you a diaphragm and spermicidal jelly, along with the condoms (for prevention of disease only)
Those towns had other things, too, like rules that kept grocery stores closed on Sundays. Some didn't allow blacks to own property in the town, either. The town I grew up in only allowed hispanics to live in a certain section of town.
Some good things in those days. Some horrible things.
You are right about that. There's never been a working utopia in real life.
It is not an area that ought to be part of the everglades, it is about 5 miles south of a town called Immokalee, and has been farm land for a very very long time.
No, dear, he's following the Catechism; that's the OFFICIAL interpretation, not his personal opinion.
Our daughter is applying to Ave Maria Univ., and frankly I'd LOVE to live in that new town!! If someone doesn't like what the town offers, they have the freedom NOT to buy property there. There are lots of houses in the area from which they can choose.
It's not the Everglades; they are a few miles South of the area. This used to be tomato fields.
I don't think they'll be surprised at all. The idea of having homes in all price ranges is great because the folks who WORK in the town will be able to buy homes there. There is no requirement that anyone BE Catholic to either work or buy a home in the town.
Well, I wish them good luck. Actually utopian communities have not all failed.
Amana colony in Iowa was religious, and even though it is gone. The name of its appliances are known
The shakers are gone, but the quality of thier workmanship and special designed furniture is still around.
The Amish have been around for 400 years and not going away soon.
I would clump Mormonism into this group and they are growing rapidly.
So a catholic community has a shot and plenty of money behind it.
I hope he endows a hefty legal fund that will carry his dream forward able to withstand all the challenges it's gonna get.
LOCATION !! ?? In hurricaine country and humidity?
I like San Diego better. Home of the new John Paul the Great Catholic University.
I agree on the home prices, though.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.