A Town Built on Religion?

[snowbunny]

Yesterday I read a CNN Article on the new development near Naples, Florida called Ave Maria. It is based around a new Catholic University, and it is to be a Catholic town, though non-Christians and non-Catholics can apply to live there.

I think they're planning to have a new cathedral and N. America's largest crucifix. The town is to be strictly regulated and though residences will be privately owned, the founder of Ave Maria (who is also the founder of Dominoes Pizza) will retain control of all the commercial property and can thereby create clauses in commercial leases that disallow sale/promotion of birth control including condoms. In addition, abortion would not be allowed in Ave Maria, nor would stores be able to sell pornography or other items deemed 'unwholesome.'

Here's a link to their website: http://www.avemaria.com.

What do you ladies think of building a town that focuses so heavily on one religion to the exclusion of others?

One one hand, I think it's nice that we live in a nation where people can exercise their faith so freely; on the other hand, I think it might be ad disservice to the population of Ave Maria to live in a community that lacks diversity.

So...would you prefer to live in a town where everyone is likely to share the majority of your beliefs and views, or would you prefer to live in a town that is diverse, but, in which, many people would not share your views?

ETA: And if you are Catholic, living in a community made especially for Catholics, don't you forgo Christ's calling to be 'fishers of men?'

[Ajani]

The Amish have done it for years. Not build cities, but have lived apart, largely by their own rules and governed by their own traditions and faith. This just takes communal living to a whole new level.

I'm fine with it. If someone wants a city like this, and others want to live there, who am I to say no? As for being 'fishers of men' they can still do that, unless they aren't allowed to leave the city for work or recreation or anything else.

[CelticSpirit]

I understand what you're saying here and like Ajani mentioned the Amish do it too.

I also know communities of Orthodox Jewish people who essentially segregate themselves from everyone else.

For the record, I'm Catholic and I don't think that I would choose to live in an all Catholic town.

[Chigal]

Yeah, but the difference is that the Orthodox Jews don't create a whole town for themselves. They live in regular towns like everybody else. I visited an Orthodox community over one Shabbat up in Muncie, NY. Yes, the Orthodox live in one section of town, but that's because they must walk to synagogue on Shabbat, so everybody lives around there. Beyond that section, town life goes on as normal. I really have a problem with any place that sets itself up as a town, with public services, schools, hospitals, police, etc, then busily excludes anybody that's not Catholic. I have to agree with the ACLU here, if you invite public business and are taking government money, then you need to abide by the seperation of church and state. I feel it's unconstitutional.

[CelticSpirit]

Very true, Chigal...

[am0rcita]

A college town without condoms? Ay yay yay...

[Ajani]

From what I've read, the separation of chruch and state thing is an overused cleche. It doesn't apply to half the things that the ACLU throws it at. Don't get me started on the Anti-Christian Liberal Union, though.

[Chigal]

Hmmmm....

[CelticSpirit]

From what I've read, the separation of chruch and state thing is an overused cleche. It doesn't apply to half the things that the ACLU throws it at. Don't get me started on the Anti-Christian Liberal Union, though.

I must admit...Ajani is right about a lot of this. At least, from MY Christian standpoint, the ACLU is more antiChristian than trying to obtain a sense of equality for ALL religions.

[Swingin' Cyster]

Just thought I should join the conversation as Tom Monaghan also started the radio station where I currently work.
I went to an tiny, orthodox Catholic university. Why? B/c I knew they would encourage my faith and that's what I wanted. Then for a year I worked at a tiny country station where I met no one outside of work and didn't like my employees. I was there for a reason (that's where I was diagnosed) and I hope I touched some of those lives but I was thrilled to be offered another job. I took a job in Catholic radio because I wanted to be surrounded by people who would be accepting and still encouraging of my faith. When you take your faith seriously, it is a tough journey and you need a lot of support and encouragement - that's why the Church places such a high emphasis on community. It's natural to flock to people who agree with you. So why not start a city? If it was a take over of another city then I'd be concerned but they bought farmland and are starting from scratch. If you don't want to live in a city where they don't sell condoms or birth control, then don't! Just like if you don't want to live in a dry county, then move! The people who move to this city will do so because they WANT to, but it isn't going to be a commune where they shut the outside world out. They'll still have jobs that take them to other cities with coworkers who are not Christian and will still have that opportunity to witness.
Anyway, that's just my thoughts.
~Kara

[CelticSpirit]

I think that Kara summed up many of my feelings here...

Except that Kara is able to verbalize things much better than I can. This damned brain fog!

[zameira]

I checked out the site with my DH and a friend of ours, the guys are convinced it sounds like a place to convert people. I think its kinda weird in some ways but love the ideah of not having porn everywhere you go. As for ever living there, no its not my cup of tea.

[am0rcita]

The concept of a religious town reminds me of the movie Footloose.

[Chigal]

I don't think the ACLU is anti-Christian. I'm not a card-carrying member, but I do agree with much of what they say. I feel that if you are going to build public structures, with public money, then you need to respect the laws of the land and open said facilities up to everyone. That goes for public schools, hospitals, fire stations, police stations and YES stores and businesses. Some of us need birth control pills to regulate our cycles, myself included. If I lived in a neighboring town and that CVS in Ave Maria was the only place that I could get my pills, what gives THEM the right to deny me something that is medically necessary because they disagree with it? I'm sorry, but public means public, which means EVERYBODY.