Empire State Building declines to honor Mother Teresa

By Greg Goodsell
6/10/2010
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Building has policy against religious observances

The Empire State Building in New York City has declined to observe what would have been Mother Teresa's 100th birthday in August. It's left a lot of the nun's followers out in the cold - and they plan to quietly protest the policy.

Outside of lightings for Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah and Eid al-Fitr (the end of Ramadan), the Empire State Building 'has a specific policy against any other lighting for religious figures or requests by religions and religious organizations.'

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Outside of lightings for Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah and Eid al-Fitr (the end of Ramadan), the Empire State Building "has a specific policy against any other lighting for religious figures or requests by religions and religious organizations," the building's owner Anthony E. Malkin said in a statement.

"Selection as an Empire State Building Lighting Partner is at the sole discretion of the ownership and management of the Empire State Building Company LLC," the privately owned building's Web site says. The site says that selection is "a privilege, not an entitlement."

The announcement has left many feeling bruised. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League For Religious and Civil Rights, called the decision "mind-boggling" and "indefensible and obscene," speculating that anti-Catholic bigotry was at play.

"Malkin has made his decision to stiff Catholics," Donohue said. "His decision to double down at this juncture - in the face of massive support for our request - is something he will regret for the rest of his life."

In protest, the Catholic League plans to demonstrate outside the Empire State Building on August 26, which would have been the 100th birthday of Mother Teresa, who cared for the poor and homeless of India. She died in 1997.

A petition in favor of the observance has collected 40,000 signatures. "I think that too many Catholics have fallen asleep at the wheel," Donohue says. "It's time for people, the rank and file to say enough is enough. I hope it's going to be nonviolent, I wouldn't encourage violence but I know there's a lot of anger."

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

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1 - 9 of 9 Comments

felicitas
2 years ago
i cant believe tat the devil has become so violent i cant believe that the devil has become so hateful towards christ and his children i have always known that he hated christ and his chridren but not like this,not like this,courage christians for the time of persecution is here again,courage chrsitians!
Shawn
2 years ago
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.

For Christians to appeal to the world for celebration of their beliefs and righteousness, show the state of Christianity in this present day.
Bulbajer
2 years ago
Hatred of Mother Theresa is real. I've met some people on Facebook who seem to think that Mother Theresa only helped poor and sick people because she felt that it was what she had to do to get into heaven. They think that the decision not to euthanize AIDS victims was cruel. I tried to be polite to them, but I don't think I succeeded >:(
Nino Baldino
2 years ago
on worldnetdaily.com I have a short letter to the editor on this very same topic! Its all in your faces Christians..take it and accept it we are in control!..I asked if maybe ole King Kong cant come back and pay another visit to this tall piece of nothingness and this time instead of leaning over too far,just leave his droppings at the place ,shimmy down and return to the jungle where goodness has a fair chance of survival ...instead of the big (rotten ) apple..........................Nino
jophet
2 years ago
worldly jay-z dismisses ALMIGHT JESUS in his song- empire state of mind. pls you need to listen to this evil song.
Harold Olsen
2 years ago
This act on the part of the Empire State Building does not really come as a surprise to me. Since Mother Teresa's death a number of people have tried to vilify her. Some have even gone so far as to claim she DID NOT even believe in God. I don't know if this is anti-Christian or just anti-Catholic.
Maria
2 years ago
I am shocked at the Empire State's decision to deny a request to turn on blue and white lights for Mother Teresa especially in light of the fact that they went ahead, no hesitation with the Yankees!

Please, ESB get your priorities straight!
Johnny
2 years ago
Mother Teresa crossed religous lines and was one of the 20th centuries most well known humanitarians. She would rather had the money from any celabration to help the causes that she spent her lifetime fighting for. I beleive celabrating her life is great but if the Empire State bldg. people aren't on board go a different direction.Hopefully people are coming up with better ideas as we speak.
penny phillips
2 years ago
I think she was a wonderful person, she help and Loved so many. The people that will not honor her are wrong and do not know ...she will still Love them no matter their decision. She will still glow in our eyes of the Catholics I guess we really don't need them. There is a star up there with her name on it forever : )

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