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ACLU opposes creation of 'Catholic town'

Comments: 19

Orlando, Fla., Feb 23, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).-

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is opposed to the efforts of Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan to build a Catholic town, named Ave Maria, in Florida.

In an interview with Tucker Carlson, host of “The Situation,” Florida ACLU executive director Howard Simon insisted that his organization’s opposition has nothing to do with anti-Catholicism. Rather, he said: “It’s a story about any religious group trying to exercise governmental power.”

“You’ve to make a distinction between just encouraging like-minded people to come and live in the same place with a town organized on religious principles, in which the religious group is given governmental authority,” said Simon.

About a year ago, Monaghan indicated that he would own all the commercial real estate, residents would not be able to buy pornography or contraception, and the town would determine what cable system it would have.

Carlson pointed out that towns everywhere decide what cable system it has, what types of stores it will have and if pornography can be sold. “That’s called zoning,” he said.

Simon continued to defend his position, citing the 10-year-old U.S. Supreme Court decision, which ruled that a group of Hasidic Jews in upper New York state in a town called Kiryas Joel, could not receive government funding because it was organized around sectarian religious principles.

“And when you‘re required to conform to religious principles, that town is not fitting for governmental authority,” he said.

“It’s his hand, and if he wants a pharmacy that doesn’t sell condoms or the pill, it‘s not your business. It’s not my business,” Carlson told his guest.

Comments: 19

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Andres
Costa Mesa, CA 12/19/2009 06:10 PM EST

If the founder of Dominos wants to use $400 million of his own money - then what business is that of the ACLU? Also they are not forcing people to live there. If you don't agree with him then live somewhere else! Just another group bashing the Catholic faith.

Published by: Cristi
Indiana 12/08/2007 09:51 PM EST

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof/ read your rights people. I am a Catholic and also CLU member at my university. Our mission is to defend our rights as provided by the constitution. ACLU has taken a case where they defended a Catholic so we are not fighting religion at all. we are fighting for our rights. It is a fine line that I walk here but with the help of God, I will prevail!

Published by: Elizabeth
Otsego 07/22/2007 07:24 PM EST

A MESSAGE FOR THE PPL OPPOSED TO THIS: Don't live there. Plain and simple. We promise not to force you to live there. Why is it your problem if Catholics or Lutherans, or Muslims want to live in a town with just Catholics, or Lutherans, or Muslims(Other groups are allowed there, though)?
Oh, and BTW, he is building it with HIS money. Not yours. His.

Published by: Darin & Jenna Collins
Washington 07/19/2007 12:59 AM EST

If we want to raise our family in a Christian town, why is that the business of the ACLU. They've over stepped their boundaries on this one. Ya'll better do some research: the more we take God out of this country, the worse we get. Case in point: check the test scores of school children before and after prayer was removed from public schools!!!! This country was founded on Christian principles and there is PLENTY of room for God in this country, starting with that town.

Published by: Brendan
Ft. Wayne IN 08/07/2006 04:14 PM EST

He is BUILDING the town so I fell that if you don't like don't move there. No one is there now and their rights are not being infringed upon so the ACLU should not be involved. If you don't like the rules and beliefs there are plenty of other town in the USA.

Published by: Sean
Minnesota 03/19/2006 07:35 PM EST

Rate: Bad

What a fantastic idea! No safe-sex allowed here, kids! It's just a town run by the Catholic Church, you know how well they've run things in the past! Yeah!

Published by: Sherry Jarrell
Concord, N.C. 03/03/2006 07:59 AM EST

I believe Tom Monaghan has good intentions as we all desire to live in a better place and if it were possible to create Heaven here on Earth, that would be a wonderful thing. The Bible assures us that one day, and with God's grace, Mr. Monaghan will be in Heaven and he won't even have to build it...God already has.

Published by: Alice C. Lee
Harrisonburg, VA 03/02/2006 04:41 PM EST

I think the ACLUs position is ridiculous. They are a terrible organization.

Published by: John Healy
Washington, DC 02/27/2006 11:01 AM EST

Thank God for the ACLU. We should not have towns and cities run by churches. All throughout history, when a Christian church has political control, the persecution of Christians with other beliefs (heretics) has been widespread. The potential for abuse (if churches have political control) should scare everyone.

Published by: Dorothy Swingle
U.S.A. Zanesville,Ohio 02/23/2006 08:10 PM EST

Good for him(Monaghan).It is about time someone tells that AClU

Published by: rev. phil floersh, c.m.
tucson/az/usa 02/23/2006 07:36 PM EST

Good for him. Go out a buy a Domino pizza...they really do taste good!

phil

Published by: Thomas Buczynski
Clinton Twp. MI. USA 02/23/2006 07:10 PM EST

Fantastic idea. Where do I sign up and how much. It's about time we started to fight back.

Published by: Thomas Buczynski
Clinton Twp. MI. USA 02/23/2006 07:09 PM EST

Fantastic idea. Where do I sign up and how much. It's about time we started to fight back.

Published by: Frank Ruffolo
Canada 02/23/2006 07:09 PM EST

Tom Monaghan is investing close to $400 million of his own money to build the town of Ave Maria, in Florida. The ACLU should congratulate Mr. Monaghan for his generosity and vision. Does the ACLU have a problem with a town that is built on the principles of Christianity, or is it just Catholic principles that the ACLU have a problem with? Or could it be, that just maybe, Mr. Monaghan's town of Ave Maria might become a real blessing and huge success bringing people to values that are in conformity to the words and ways of God. Maybe, Mr. Monaghan's town of Ave Maria and even his university might actually become so successful that he could franchise it all over the United States, and God forbid, in the great white north of Canada. I am just envious that you have a pioneer and visionary like Tom Monaghan in the U.S. that is willing to put his money where his mouth is! I am praying for you Tom Monaghan, and may the town of Ave Maria and university be a huge success. Just hoping you build a town of Ave Maria and university in Canada next. God knows we really need this beautiful novel concept in Canada as well.

Published by: Tony
Valley Stream, NY 02/23/2006 05:44 PM EST

For once I agree with ACLU. There is no place in America for one man to own a town and lay down the law there. In this case Thank God for the ACLU.

Published by: Perry Gornick
Villa Park, IL. USA 02/23/2006 04:19 PM EST

Hi! I just wanted to say for the record how sick and tired I am of hearing about how the ACLU doesn't like this and doesn't like that when religion or God is involved. They violate their very own mission statement by trying to surpress peoples God given rights and liberty to organize a group of like minded religious believers who wish to provide for themselves a community, which is free from all the filth that the ACLU seem to be willing to go to great lengths to protect. They are hypocrites in the highest degree because they seek to uphold and protect a selected number of groups personal liberty whom they feel are worthy of their support while infringing on other peoples rights in the process. There main objective however is to promote and move forward their sadly flawed agenda. They should change their name to the Selective Civil Liberties Union.
Thank you for allowing me to air my viewpoints through this forum.

Respectfully yours,
Perry H. Gornick

Published by: Esther
Florida 02/23/2006 03:48 PM EST

ACLU was founded by a communist.

ACLU says they defend liberty but they take away basic human rights, like right choices, religious freedom, the protection and education of children by their parents, etc. etc.

ACLU doesn't realize that America is a religious country:

"In God We Trust" is our motto.

Presidents and Public Servants all pray at the end of their commitment statement:

"And help me God".

Something that distinguishes Catholics is the respect of every human life, marriage and the family, decency, truth, and all values that promote the human person and common good.

The 10 Commandments are principles inscribed in natural conscience that ACLU pretends to destroy.

ACLU is anti-American; must be forbidden.

Don't you agree?

Published by: Christopher Carney
Newnan georgia 02/23/2006 01:54 PM EST

Someone need to tell the ACLu to take a hike. It appears to me it is they (ACLU) who wants to control our rights. I would much rather have the church watching out for my rights than the ACLU.

Published by: ROGER DUCHESNEAU
U.S.A 02/23/2006 12:15 PM EST

THE ACLU IS THE MOST ORGANIZATION IN THIS COUNTRY THEY ARE OPPOSE TO ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH RELIGION.

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