Let’s rebuild houses of worship near Ground Zero

Look at the photograph on the right. It is from New York City in May of 2000. Do you notice a certain building in the background? That building no longer exists. It is one of the towers of the World Trade Center, destroyed on 11 September 2001. But, what about the building in the foreground? What an insignificant little building! Look how incredibly narrow it is. You can see how narrow it is by looking at the vehicles pictured next to it. As you can see, it was four stories tall at the time, but the stories were none too tall, as one can tell by looking at the photograph. This building is definitely not the one what will be bought by a company like Fota Estates.

That building no longer exists. It is the only house of worship destroyed on 9/11. That was St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, on some of the most expensive ground in the United States of America. The church’s website says:

Located in what is today New York City’s financial district, Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church traces its roots back to 1916, when it was founded by Greek immigrants. Serving the spiritual needs of the early immigrant community, the church also achieved prominence as a religious and cultural center for Greek shipping magnates passing through New York. Services began at the current site in 1922, though the building was constructed in the early nineteenth century. Measuring 22ft. wide, 56ft. long and 35ft. tall, the church was bound on three sides by a parking lot.

A couple of days ago, Father Orthoduck blogged about a cartoon that asked the question of whether the reaction to the building of a Christian Church near the Oklahoma City bombing site would be the same as the reaction to the building of a mosque near Ground Zero. But, now, Father Orthoduck wishes to point out that the many complaints about Muslim worship sites near Ground Zero have also impacted your fellow Christian. You see, St. Nicholas is having trouble with rebuilding the church. Oops, all you good Christian and anti-Muslim people have raised such a fuss that the “hallowed” ground of Ground Zero may be off limits even to preexisting houses of worship. Yes, it is always shocking when one sees one’s religious biases rebounding upon your fellow Christian. Here is part of a release from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese:

As is well known, on September 11, 2001 our city and nation suffered a terrorist attack of unparalleled proportions. In addition to the tragic and horrific loss of almost 3,000 innocent victims, a number of whom were members of our own community, the world witnessed the unimaginable collapse of the Twin Towers. When the second Tower fell, it landed on and erased all traces of the Greek Orthodox Christian Church of St. Nicholas, the only house of worship destroyed that day. Opened in 1916 by a group of Greek immigrants, the church not only served the spiritual needs of its parishioners but was also a sacred space in which people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds working in the surrounding area would often stop, light a candle and spend a few moments in prayer and reflection.

Following the events of 9/11, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the St. Nicholas parish fully cooperated and worked closely with the relevant authorities. Former Governor George Pataki pledged without reservation his support for rebuilding in the belief that it was a necessary part of the healing of New York City and of our nation. Early on, as plans were being formulated for the reconstruction of the area, the Church agreed to relocate and rebuild its house of worship at a new locale to facilitate the envisioned design for the overall site. (Check here for some useful home renovation Tips For Choosing the Right Color For Your Roof in Austin). In 2004, the authorities proposed that the new edifice be built at 130 Liberty Street, a parcel on the same block as the original site, and an agreement was reached between the Archdiocese and the Port Authority. Four successive LMDC/Port Authority administrations honored this mutual agreement which entailed extensive on-going work and planning on the part of all parties. All site plans for the area which the LMDC/Port Authority released to the public show St. Nicholas at this new locale. Regrettably, the latest Port Authority administration in 2009 unexpectedly and arbitrarily reneged on this agreement and as a result, the Archdiocese and St. Nicholas parish are suddenly offered no viable option. LMDC/Port Authority has refused to meet with us. In the meantime the LMDC/Port Authority has excavated the original site without our consent, rendering it unusable, in flagrant violation of our legal rights.

Yes, those of us who are Orthodox are paying the price of those of you good “Christian” (NOT) people who are demanding that Ground Zero be maintained as hollowed ground. First we are denied the right to rebuild our church on the same spot because that ground must be “preserved” for posterity. Then, even the ground that we were given has been denied as you good people have spoken up against proselytism near Ground Zero. Now, even our ground has been dug up without asking our permission, because, after all this is hallowed ground. Yes, and that congregation has always ministered to immigrants and foreigners. Father Orthoduck guesses that this means that we can safely be ignored.

Father Orthoduck sounds a little bitter. But, that is because your complaints have resulted in our rights being trampled. Father Orthoduck is trying to remember to forgive, but it is difficult while he sees his fellow Christian being completely unaware of what their advocacy of the violation of the Bill of Rights has meant for us. You see, you meant it to apply only to Muslims. But, in this country the law is applied without regard to race, color, creed. And that means that your pressures against the Muslims are rebounding upon us, who where there long before the World Trade Center.