WASHINGTON (ABP) — A church-state watchdog group said a proposal by New York's governor to relocate a controversial Islamic center proposed in New York City to publicly owned property is legally flawed and should be abandoned.
Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said Gov. David Paterson's compromise with opponents of the so-called "Ground Zero mosque" near the site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks would likely be challenged in court.
"I understand that some people are not happy with the prospect of an Islamic center opening in Manhattan, but relocating it to public property raises significant legal issues," Lynn said. "Whether the governor is talking about a gift of public land or a sweetheart deal that gives one religious group a special right to purchase government property, it's wrong."
Lynn said the Supreme Court has held repeatedly that government may not subsidize religious facilities, and any attempt to use public resources to relocate the Islamic center would undoubtedly wind up in court.
Lynn said it is unfortunate the debate over the mosque has become politicized, but he urged the state to stay out of the controversy.
"Local authorities in Manhattan have cleared the way for construction of the Islamic center," Lynn said. "It's up to the Islamic group to decide whether they want to proceed."
Richard Land, the Southern Baptist Convention's chief spokesman for moral and religious-liberty concerns, has said he does not believe the Muslims are entitled to build a mosque anywhere they choose and suggested that they accept Paterson's offer.
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Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.