Turkey refuses Pope's Tarsus request [CN-USA]

[Catholic_Press]

Turkey’s government has refused a personal request from Pope Benedict and from other Christian leaders for the reopening of the only church in Tarsus, thecity of St Paul’s birth.

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[Lisa44]

Does anyone know why? I don’t want to assume, and the article does not give a reason for the Turkish governments decision.

 

[JReducation]

The State owns the property. That’s the problem. If it were opened as a parish, the Church would have complete control over the property even though it would not own it. My guess is that this is an issue over control over the property. Once it becomes a parish, would the State have control over it?

I’m not taking the side of the State. I’m just trying to think as they would.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Mark77]

God Bless our religious freedom!

Pray for those who do not respect God our Father.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

mark

 

[JReducation]

God Bless our religious freedom!

Pray for those who do not respect God our Father.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

mark

This is not a problem of religious freedom. Chrsitans in Turkey have religious freedom. This is a problem over jurisdiction. We’ve had the same problems in the USA between the Church and state.

There are several institutions in the USA that belong to the Church. But they serve people with special needs and the government pays for the service. Those institutions are not allowed to have crucifixes in common areas or to have pro-life counseling. They have to do all kinds of things to get around the state regulations.

This is another reason why states cannot partner with religions, because the governments are inflexible. Their assumption is that they pay; therefore, they call the shots. This is the conflict in Turkey over this building. The government owns it and pays for its upkeep. Therefore, it calls the shots. Society has given too much power to government.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF