With the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop, an impassionedMayor Bloombergyesterday supported the development of a mosque near Ground Zero and chastised opponents for what he said was trampling on religious freedom.
“I believe that this is an important test of the separation of church and state -- as important a test as we may see in our lifetimes -- and it is critically important that we get it right,” the mayor said in remarks on Governors Island -- chosen by the mayor as a symbol of religious freedom in America.
“To cave to popular sentiment would be to hand a victory to the terrorists, and we should not stand for that.”
The mayor spoke shortly after theLandmarks Preservation Commissionyesterday morning paved the way for the construction of the mosque on Park Place -- voting 9-0 vote not to grant landmark status to the 152-year-old building that is to be demolished for the project.
The planned building, called Park 51, is slated to house a community center in addition to the house of worship. The commission’s vote signifies the clearing of a major hurdle in the controversial plan.
Emotional at times,Bloombergdescribed Governors Island as “where the seeds of religious tolerance were first planted” as a home to the earliest settlers in New Amsterdam.
“We come to state as strongly as ever -- this is the freest city in the world. That’s what makes New York special and different and strong. Our doors are open to everyone,” the mayor said.
“Of all our precious freedoms, the most important may be the freedom to worship as we wish and it is a freedom that even here, in a city that is rooted in Dutch tolerance, was hard won over many years.”
Standing with 10 clergy members of various faiths and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Bloomberg spoke of religious obstacles faced by Quakers, Jews and Catholics who fought to practice their faiths centuries ago.
“The simple fact is this building is private property and the owners have a right to use the building as a house of worship and the government has no right whatsoever to deny that right,” Bloomberg said of the proposed mosque.
“Lost in the heat of the debate has been a basic question: Should government attempt to deny private citizens the right to build a house of worship on private property based on their particular religion?
“That may happen in other countries but we should never allow it to happen here. This nation was founded on the principle that the government must never choose between religions or favor one over another.”
He also offered praise to the city’s Muslims, saying they too were among the innocents killed on Sept. 11, 2001, and they too opposed the terrorist attacks.
“Muslims are as much a part of our city and our country as a people of any faith, and they’re as welcome to worship in lower Manhattan as any other group,” Bloomberg said.
“We would betray our values and play into our enemies’ hands if we were to treat Muslims differently than anyone else.”
The mayor said opposing the planned mosque does not honor the lives of first responders and others killed in the World Trade Center collapse.
Bloomberg took questions from reporters after his speech. When asked about the Anti-Defamation League’s resistance to the project, he expressed surprise.
“They have a right to their opinion [but] I find it out of character with their stated mission -- totally out of character, and I have no idea what possessed them to reach that conclusion,” he said.