Many sides: The mosque near Ground Zero (UPDATED)
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
By Megan Sweas
Comments (6)
There's been a lot of discussion of Park51 lately, so here's a helpful recap with some links you might want to read:
UPDATE: I went to a talk by Scott Alexander, professor of Islam at Catholic Theological Union, on Sunday and got to ask him about the debate after the talk. Check it out:
Today's guest blog posts:
For the mosque by Meg Funk, O.S.B
Against the mosque by Michael J Kerrigan
Catholic News Service: New York mosque controversy echoes anti-Catholicism of another era
My blog posts:
Is productive dialogue possible around Ground Zero? - I argue for keeping interfaith dialogue in the news but losing the politics.
The fear behind the Muslim center at Ground Zero - I argue that there's a more general fear behind all the protests against mosques around the country.
Good reading on other websites:
Politifact: Fact-checking the "Ground-Zero mosque" debate
CNN: Family members of 9/11 victims support and denounce NYC Islamic Center
Also check out the video, featuring Bruce Feiler talking about how this has grown from a local issue to a national issue about whether religion can get along.
LA Times: New York mosque controversy worries Muslims overseas
NY Times: Mosque near Ground Zero exposes mixed feelings locally (about NYC Muslims' reactions)
And finally, since people are so split on this issue, a way to resolution:
NY Daily News: Archbishop Dolan talks 'Ground Zero mosque' with Gov. Paterson, has no 'strong feelings' on location
Dolan: "What we do not need are protests, but promoters of dialogue."
Posted in: In preview mode
Mosque : more sides
By Jerry D (not verified) on Monday, September 20, 2010According to a survey of Arabic online news service Elaph, 58 percent of Arabs think the construction of the ground zero mosque should be moved elsewhere.
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/lachlan-markay/2010/09/20/survey-shows-arab...
Interfaith Support
By Ron Krumpos (not verified) on Thursday, September 2, 2010I just read a comment on an atheist website that has the best statement on this controversy I have heard yet.
"Plus, has anyone looked at the Ground Zero site lately? It's trashed. It's gross. If this is supposed to be a memorial, a place for people to come to remember, mounds of dirt and scaffolding is not going to do the job. It truly worries me that our politicians and citizens are too busy being worried about a religious group trying to practice hope and love and peace (which IS what Islam teaches), than to memorialize a site they consider oh so sacred."
See http://lovedilemmas.blogspot.com/2010/08/10th-post-new-york-mosque-...
Also, here is a wonderful article on Tikkun Daily of students and faculty from the Hebrew Union College marching in support of Park51:
http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/2010/09/02/heeding-heschels-call-...
Support The Mosque
By Anonymous (not verified) on Thursday, September 2, 2010Let's have a special collection at all Catholic churches throughout the United States to show our love and support for the construction of the Victory Mosque. Why should the monies to build the mosque come from Muslims? We need to take the high ground, support the mosque, and pay for it's construction. Then we can all go worship Allah and deny Christ.
Mosque at ground Zero
By abraham (not verified) on Sunday, August 29, 2010They have a right to build it under the municipal ordinances. They have a right to freedom of religion under the US constitution. Yes people died at ground zero, but the mosque will be two blocks away.
The imam behind it is a moderate Muslim. We should encourage it 100%. Because in our fight against Muslim terrorism we should engage all moderate Muslims. The majority of 1.3billion Muslims are moderate Muslim who are NOT terrorists. Especially since Jews, Christians and Muslims are "people of the book", meaning that they all have "revealed" texts.So lets think properly and in detail with less emotion.
A statement by Network
By Joan Krebs. Glenview, IL (not verified) on Thursday, August 26, 2010In addition to the references made above the Catholic group who championed the Health Care bill (Network)published a position statement on this issue yesterday (8/25). It's a strong defense of tolerance as well as denunciation of its opposite. It's well worth a read.
another article re the "mosque"
By Mary Margaret Cannon (not verified) on Wednesday, August 25, 2010Here is an article in Notre Dame mag which you must check out -- it's outstanding!
U.S. Catholic insists on a civil and respectful dialogue on our website, following our Comment policy. Comments should be charitable, on topic, and brief. U.S. Catholic reserves the right to delete comments deemed inappropriate. We encourage you to choose your words wisely.
