Post by KNOs1s on Aug 18, 2010 17:21:28 GMT
Americans United for Separation of Church and State Press Release
Use of Government Property to Relocate NYC Mosque Raises Serious Legal Questions, Says Americans United
Church-State Watchdog Group Says Government Can’t Subsidize Religion Or Give It Preferential Treatment
August 18, 2010
New York Gov. David Paterson’s proposal to offer public property to relocate the so-called “Ground Zero mosque” raises serious constitutional issues and could spark litigation, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
“I understand that some people are not happy with the prospect of an Islamic center opening in Manhattan, but relocating it to public property raises significant legal issues,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Whether the governor is talking about a gift of public land or a sweetheart deal that gives one religious group a special right to purchase government property, it’s wrong.
“In America,” continued Lynn, “government does not subsidize religion or give religious groups preferential treatment.”
Controversy has flared recently over plans by a Muslim group to build an Islamic center two blocks from the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Paterson proposed resolving the matter by offering public land elsewhere for construction of the Islamic facility.
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knos1s says:
My opinion on this is that if the Government is going to prohibit the legal use of private property to build the mosque, it should find some adequate solution for it to be moved to private property. I emphatically agree that it should not be funded by the government in any way. It's a sticky wicket whatever thoughts are.
Use of Government Property to Relocate NYC Mosque Raises Serious Legal Questions, Says Americans United
Church-State Watchdog Group Says Government Can’t Subsidize Religion Or Give It Preferential Treatment
August 18, 2010
New York Gov. David Paterson’s proposal to offer public property to relocate the so-called “Ground Zero mosque” raises serious constitutional issues and could spark litigation, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
“I understand that some people are not happy with the prospect of an Islamic center opening in Manhattan, but relocating it to public property raises significant legal issues,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Whether the governor is talking about a gift of public land or a sweetheart deal that gives one religious group a special right to purchase government property, it’s wrong.
“In America,” continued Lynn, “government does not subsidize religion or give religious groups preferential treatment.”
Controversy has flared recently over plans by a Muslim group to build an Islamic center two blocks from the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Paterson proposed resolving the matter by offering public land elsewhere for construction of the Islamic facility.
****
knos1s says:
My opinion on this is that if the Government is going to prohibit the legal use of private property to build the mosque, it should find some adequate solution for it to be moved to private property. I emphatically agree that it should not be funded by the government in any way. It's a sticky wicket whatever thoughts are.