Posted on 07/23/2010 9:30:46 AM PDT by marshmallow
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) – A Roman Catholic parish in New York City on Thursday voted against selling one of its properties to a Muslim organization that planned to erect a mosque there, yielding to local residents' opposition.
The Staten Island parish's decision against the sale of its abandoned convent to the Muslim American Society comes as a another proposed mosque faces criticism for being located too close to the site of the September 11, 2001, attacks in Manhattan.
The Rev. Keith Fennessy, leader of the Saint Margaret Mary parish on the borough of Staten Island, had chosen in June to back away from the sale. On Thursday, the parish board approved his decision.
"I have concluded that the contemplated sale would not serve the needs of the parish," Fennessy said last month.
The Archdiocese of New York on Thursday released a statement saying it "enjoyed a good relationship with the Islamic community in the past, and looks forward to continued dialogue, friendship, and understanding in the future."
A spokeswoman for the Muslim American Society could not immediately be reached for comment.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Do you suppose this parrish knows whats going on?
That’s a relief.
Good.
Good. Never sell to vermin.
Awesome!
Now, how long until CAIR claims racism and some mullah fires of a call for jihad?
finally something that makes sense.I was actually surprised when I read the article...I am so use to living in upside down mode I assumed the title said “decides” to sell.
Not long before the ROP kills a few NY citizens over this.
Apparently they had decided to sell and reversed the decison because it p*ssed off real Americans. Their 'good' relationship with muslims was not an issue. I see a betrayal of faith by this church/parrish from the get-go. That is just my useless opinion.
“...an abandoned convent” ..somehow about says it all....
Finally, a little good news. I wish they would have elaborated on the report that “the vote came after heated exchanges between residents living by the beachside parish and members of the Muslim community.”
The Muslim community, including MAS, is disappointed with the Archdiocese’s decision to back away from this sale. This denial reinforced an unfortunate notion that the pressures of bigotry and Islamophobia triumphed over a good, long-standing relationship between the Archdiocese and the Muslim community. It is indeed a setback.
Every person and religious institution has a right to build a house of worship, including the Muslims in the South Shore of Staten Island. It is a travesty that a public official subjected MAS to an investigation simply because it chose to exercise its constitutional right to establish an Islamic center. The results of the investigation proved false all the inflammatory accusations against MAS—something already clear to everyone who has worked closely with us.
While we continue to pursue our religious and constitutional rights, we will not hesitate to reach out to the Staten Island community at large, to establish mutual understanding and to protect freedom of religion.
MAS is determined to serve all communities across the nation including Staten Island and is currently studying all available options in response to the Archdiocese’s decision.
How long before the government seizes the place and transfers it to their fellow muslims?
The Archdiocese and the Parish should have just said the property was not for sale. Now, they’ve opened themselves to a whole bunch of problems. Light and dark do not mix.
I tend to agree...it should not have taken public opinion from them to know this was a bad idea.
The courageous efforts of the laity of this Staten Island parish shoud be a lesson to Mayor Bloomberg and the rest of the liberals of NY state.Andrew Cuomo supports the Mosque next to GROUND O.This will help to bring about his defeat in November.
**The Rev. Keith Fennessy, leader of the Saint Margaret Mary parish on the borough of Staten Island, had chosen in June to back away from the sale. On Thursday, the parish board approved his decision.**
God bless Father Fennessy and his parish. Now if the at ground zero project would falter.
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