I am grieved that New York City is planning to take the unwise step of removing 68 churches from the spaces that they rent in public schools. It is my conviction that those churches housed in schools are invaluable assets to the neighborhoods that they serve. Churches have long been seen as positive additions to communities. Family stability, resources for those in need, and compassion for the marginalized are all positive influences that neighborhood churches provide. There are many with first-hand experience who will claim that the presence of churches in a neighborhood can lead to a drop in crime.
The great diversity of our city means that we will never all agree completely on anything. And we cherish our city’s reputation for tolerance of differing opinions and beliefs. Therefore, we should all mourn if disagreement with certain beliefs of the church is allowed to unduly influence the formation of just policy and practice.
[i]Churches have long been seen as positive additions to communities[/i]
Well, now you know why Bloomberg, et al, are so on the horse to get rid of the churches.
When the liberal/progressives finally get around to persecuting Christians any reason will do.
The New York City administration may not care about whether or not these churches are an asset to the community, but the people of the community certainly do! The only thing Mayor Bloomburg and his people care about is the separation of Church and State; nothing else matters.
Are they afraid of getting sued or what? A lot of those schools are strapped for money, and I would think 68 monthly sources of rent income, no matter how small, are going to add up quickly.
I would say this is just another manifestation of the unholy alliance between liberals in the churches, and liberals in politics and the judiciary. The liberals are the establishment in churches these days – a very small group that controls the money and the levers of power – so it was predictable that liberal judges would want to help out their colleagues by making a decison that would only hurt orthodox groups.
The liberals in both church and state are too stupid to realise that persecution only strengthens a religion. These churches will not disappear just because schools are closed to them.
Its good to see that Rev. Keller is protesting about this. Anyone involved with these churches should do the same, whether by letters to the media, or to political representatives, or other means. It is important that the deeds of the liberals are exposed, so that society as a whole sees them for what they are.
Let’s also pray for the various congregations that they be uplifted and preserved from oppression by the ungodly.