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Previous: The Mosque and the Monastery

Finally, one last point about the Carmelites at Auschwitz is worth noting. The Carmelites were not forcibly expelled; they left in response to objections from Jewish groups—though it was Pope John Paul II, not the Carmelites, who acknowledged the legitimacy of Jewish concerns in this regard, and the nuns apparently took their sweet time about leaving, missing the pope’s deadline by a few years.

The Park51 project should not go forward at 51 Park Way. But what should opponents do about their concerns? The best solution would be if project sponsors came to recognize the insensitivity of their proposal and voluntarily...READ MORE

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Previous: What’s In a Name?

Attempts to express the insensitivity of the Cordoba project have not always been as effective as possible. Opponents have compared it to a Japanese monument at Pearl Harbor or an American monument at Hiroshima. While these examples illustrate the principle of the need for sensitivity and respect in connection with what may be called sacred sites, as direct analogies they are more misleading than illustrative. Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima were bombed not just by, respectively, Japanese and Americans, but by Japan and America. These were acts of nations, sanctioned by their governments and carried out by their military. By...READ MORE

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Previous: How Close is Too Close?

What about the name Cordoba House? As noted above, the project is being co-sponsored by Rauf’s Cordoba Initiative, and a number of sources report that the project was originally called Cordoba House, but was subsequently changed (perhaps in response to controversy) to the neutral, non-descriptive “Park51,” after the street address. However, it seems project sponsors are using both names—but not interchangeably.

The Park51 website calls the project “the community center at Park51,” but also speaks of a “center for multifaith dialogue and engagement” within the community center called Cordoba House. Perhaps the name...READ MORE

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Previous: Location, Location, Location

Advocates attempt to turn this logic on its head, arguing that proximity to the site of the 9/11 attacks makes the site a desirable location for a facility that sponsors say will be devoted to promoting Muslim-West relations. What, they ask, could be a more powerful rebuttal to the radical Islamic narrative about the Great Satan America’s implacable enmity toward Muslims and Islam than for Americans to welcome and accept Muslims here, of all places? What better way to showcase our commitment to religious freedom than to refuse to allow bitterness over the attacks to harden our hearts toward other Muslims who had...READ MORE

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Previous: Who is Imam Rauf?

Located a couple of blocks from the former World Trade Center, this site in question is partly occupied by a building that until 2001 was leased to the Burlington Coat Factory. On September 11, the building was damaged by airplane parts falling from the stricken towers. After that, it stood empty until 2009, when it was purchased by a Muslim-owned real estate and development company and began to be used for prayer services for lower Manhattan’s growing Muslim community. Services at the site are led by Imam Rauf. The project will span the lot for the present building and an adjacent building to be purchased.

Opponents argue...READ MORE

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Previous: Mosque or Community Center?

Routinely described in the mainstream media as a moderate and a champion of moderate Islam, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf says that his work and organizations are dedicated to “building bridges” between Islam and the West. Critics charge that Rauf is actually a supporter of radical Islam and terrorist violence.

The facts seem to have been somewhat muddled on all sides. The problems start with Rauf’s own penchant for slippery, obfuscatory rhetoric and agenda-laden doublespeak — probably a symptom of his “bridge building” efforts to reach out to multiple constituencies at once. In addition, sympathetic media have engaged in...READ MORE

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Previous: Introduction

Note (9/9/2010): Since this post was written a few weeks ago, project sponsors appear to have clarified or changed their plans regarding the mosque. See “Cordoba House: NO mosque near Ground Zero?” for the most recent information.

Are they building a mosque? According to the official project website and other reliable sources, the answer is yes, though the mosque will be one part of a much larger project.

The plan is to build a $100 million, 13-story edifice called “Park51” which will reportedly include a range of cultural and recreation facilities, including a gym, swimming pool, basketball court, theater and performing arts...READ MORE