Bloomberg & The Catholic League Spar

[HagiaSophia]

In 2002, the Bronx Household of Faith, an inner-city Christian church, won a ruling in federal district court maintaining that it has a right to hold religious services on Sundays in a New York City public school.* But now the Bloomberg administration is going to challenge this ruling in court, citing separation of church and state concerns.
Catholic League president William Donohue today accused Mayor Michael Bloomberg of supporting religious discrimination:
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“All over the United States, public schools are utilized after school hours by every conceivable community group.* Moreover, the courts have repeatedly said that religious groups cannot be discriminated against in having access to public facilities.* But Mayor Bloomberg disagrees: he wants to deny religious groups the same rights afforded secular groups.* In the name of diversity, he wants to destroy the diversity that the Bronx Household of Faith brings to New York.
*
“To support religious discrimination in an election year is a very dicey proposition for Mayor Bloomberg.* Already in trouble with many New Yorkers for his personal support of gay marriage, Bloomberg now risks alienating the ranks of the faithful even further.* Traditional Catholics and Orthodox Jews, as well as Protestants, know what is at stake—religious liberty for all religions.* That is why this issue transcends the interests of the Bronx Household of Faith.*
*
“It is not likely that Mayor Bloomberg will succeed in the courts.* But one thing is for sure—he has just ignited a firestorm that will surely burn him in the court of public opinion.”

theconservativevoice.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2739

 

[Philip_P]

Living in New York (3 years in May), I have to say that I would vote for Bloombergs reelection were it not for his strong support of the West Side Stadium. Using tax dollars to support a money losing project does not strike me as the most prudent of measures, particularly considering the other public works in need of funding (e.g. the 2nd ave subway). Still, I’ll have to wait and see the proposals of those running against him.

On the larger, national issue raised by this question, though, I have to say I disagree with Bloomberg. I think the 1st amendment provision, that congress shall make no law regarding the establishment of religion, and the consequent ideal of national religious pluralism, is best served by allowing the fullest possible expression to each religious tradition. Let Catholics (like myself) celebrate Christmas and Easter publically, including in public schools. Let Muslims celebrate Ramadan, and Jews Chanukka. I’m not an expert on constitutional law, so I won’t try to weigh in on the constitutional merits of real, vibrant pluralism, but from a cultural perspective, it seems to me that the current liberal orthodoxy which insists on watering down all religious tradition in the hope of offending no one is a weak and unhelpful impulse indeed, that causes more harm than good. I’m Catholic, and comfortable with that, so much so that I don’t feel threatened, and in fact welcome, the equally vibrant expressions of belief of my fellow citizens. Let Christians hold faith services in the Bronx Household of Faith, let Jews hold Torah classes in the NYPL, let Muslims hold lectures on the Koran, at CUNY facilities, let atheists hold a freethinkers picnic at Bryant Park, but please spare us the ridiculous idea that religous freedom is being upheld by refusing religious expression.