New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan is quoted in an interview (NYTimes online) as making the same points that I and "Rob" were making in our discussion a couple of posts ago about the proposed mosque/commuity center near the site of Ground Zero. I think the perspectives we have been sharing are "spot on," as the British would say. I will add the comments of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, that if the purpose of the center is/was to be a gesture of reconciliation and healing, perhaps the best way of showing that now would be to withdraw the proposal, at least as in its current form...
The questions have to be asked, "When is it 'long enough'? Is it still 'too soon'?" This is so difficult. An example is the music of Richard Wagner, unofficially but effectively banned for decades from being performed in Israel because of Wagner's explicit anti-Semitism and the fact his music was adopted by Hitler a couple of generations later as the national music of Nazi Germany. Everyone in the 1950s and 1960s could understand this anger. In 2000 a concert of his music was finally performed in Israel--conducted by Mendi Rodan, a Holocaust survivor. Yet there is still great opposition to such concerts. Was Mr Rodan's gesture one made "too soon"? Was 55 years "long enough"? There is still great dispute here.
And the dispute will continue in New York as well. I hope that Archbishop Dolan's "great prayer" (see the NYTimes online article) will be answered. And I'll be praying with him.
It seems to this writer that it does seem to matter who will decide the placement of the mosque. As of today's news, sides of opinions are being formed: Archbishop Timothy Dolan, former N.Y. mayor Rudy Guiliani, Michael Bloomberg, Rick Lazio, Abdul Rauf. You have indicted that the only one to make this decision is Abdul Rauf: to date, he has declared he is not changing his mind. In the U.S. we have freedom of religion; it does not explicitly state where this religious practice should be held. In my previous blog, not noted by you, it was mentioned that a mediation board might be a way of handling it.
ReplyDeleteBecause it does not seem obvious that the prime motive of Abdul Rauf is perfectly clear. If this situation is being determined purely with intellect and a spirit of forgiveness, it is not obvious. The human natures involved with negative vibes are likely those who are in mourning, politically savvy, or not ready to subdue their feelings. To refer to 1 Kings 3, Solomon asked our Lord to give your servant an
understanding heart to judge the people and to distinguish right from wrong. In this matter, an understanding heart is the only peaceful solution.
I apologize for missing a chance to refer to your "another time...another place" comment (so evocative of the solution for Eric in "Chariots of Fire," by the way).
ReplyDeleteMore than one person's judgment matters, I think, but the bottom line is surely what the motivation for any decision (either to build the community center/mosque or not, either to oppose its building or not) actually is...
I believe that one must be prudent in one's judgement regarding certain situations. Love and Peace will not change the fact that there is a brotherhood of muslims out there, whose ultimate goal is world domination. To build a mosque in that area, is a clear and loud statement (without using words) of victory for the enemies of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We live in a (real) world over flowing with the angels of darkness and their human co-conspirators. We absolutely have a need to know who funded the purcase of this building, and also have need to know what will be taught there. We are a truly a silly, and foolish people, if we do not seek these answers. muslims and Christians can NEVER be one united with God, for their god is not the God of Light. In the Name of The Father, and of THe Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeletePIAPS HAS OBVIOUSLY INSTRUCTED THE ROMAN POPE TO HAVE HIS SURROGATE IN NEW YORK INTERVENE IN THE GROUND ZERO ISLAMOFASCIST MOSQUE CONTROVERSY!!!!!!!!:
ReplyDeleteThe archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, says he would be "honored" to serve as a mediator in the ever- growing controversy over the proposed mosque hard by Ground Zero."If I can be a part, say but the word," Dolan said during an impromptu news conference.
HOW CAN POPERY “MEDIATE” AN ISSUE WHEN THEY HAVE ALREADY PREDETERMINED THEIR ANTI-AMERICA POSITION?!?!?!?!
PAM GELLER, DON’T FALL FOR THIS JESUITICAL PLOY!!!!!!
IT IS NOW CLEAR TO EVEN THE CASUAL OBSERVER, THAT PIAPS IS MAKING EARLY MOVES TO ESTABLISH HER ONE-WORLD RELIGION!!!!!
THIS WAS INDICATED BY EMMINENT SCHOLAR DR. TIM LAHAYE AS WELL!!!!!!
WE KNOW THAT SAINT PATRICK’S TEMPLE IS ONLY 1.5 MILES AWAY FROM THE UNITED NATIONS, TO WHERE PIAPS WILL DISPATCH CLINTOON IN THE FINAL TRIBULATION PERIOD!!!!!!
THIS MINISTRY URGES OUR NEW YORK READERS TO PRINTOUT THE MORNING AFTER TO PASS OUT TO THOSE DOING THE WORK OF FREEDOM IN PROTESTING AND DEMONSTRATING TO UPHOLD THE DIGNITY OF GROUND ZERO!!!!!
HEY, POPE!!!! HEY, PIAPS!!!!
YOU ARE BOTH EXPOSED!!!!!
AMERICA------YEAH!!!!!!
It's hard for me to take anything Ralph has to say with any seriousness. Americaphile is just another hate group/movement out there with heretical views of the Holy Scriptures.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how both the extremist factions of Islam and groups like Americaphile use "their" respective scriptures to further their hate filled agendas.