Legal Commentary

Greek Orthodox Church Upset That Gov't Won't Pay For New "Ground Zero" Church

By Big Tent Democrat

Delicious new Fox New controversy:

Confronted with the Port Authority's verdict, Father Mark Arey, of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, said it's the first he's heard that. "Negotiations did break off last year. We were expecting to hear from their lawyers -- we never did. We're still expecting to hear from them," he told Fox News. "We're disappointed. ... 130 Liberty Street was promised to us."

[. . . ] The Port Authority and the church announced a deal in July 2008 under which the Port Authority would grant land and up to $20 million to help rebuild the church -- in addition, the authority was willing to pay up to $40 million to construct a bomb-proof platform underneath. Within a year, the deal fell through and talks ended -- apparently for good, according to the Port Authority.

[. . .] The Port Authority has previously claimed the church was making additional demands -- like wanting the $20 million up front and wanting to review plans for the surrounding area. They say the church can still proceed on its own if it wishes. [. . .] "The church continues to have the right to rebuild at their original site, and we will pay fair market value for the underground space beneath that building," a spokesperson with the Port Authority told Fox News.

See? They let them build a mosque but not a Christian church! Sharia Law! The Terrorists Win! Except for the fact that the Cordoba Center is not asking for any money from anyone and wants to build on the site they own. And that the Christian Church can do exactly the same thing. More . .

But to bring in one more faith, let me show you an example of real chutzpah:

Arey [the Greek Orthodox priest] said the original site is no good. Archdiocese officials disputed the Port Authority's claims, saying the church has complied with all conditions. "It's not about money," Arey said. He expressed hope that the project can still be salvaged.

"This little church deserves to be rebuilt. It's symbolic, not just for Orthodox Christians, not just for Christians, but for all Americans," Arey said, calling the mosque debate "helpful" to the church's cause. "I believe that people around the country are asking themselves the question -- why all this talk about a mosque being built near Ground Zero? What about a little church that was destroyed on 9/11? ... This is basically a bureaucratic impasse. This will dissolve in the face of the American public consciousness."

(Emphasis supplied.) Brass ones this priest has.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 18, 2010 (boomark / email).