Apparition
31st August 2010, 11:40 AM
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah has come out strongly in support of the controversial Islamic center proposed for construction in New York, even as his party appears to be using opposition to the so-called "Ground Zero mosque" as a campaign issue.
In an interview over the weekend with Fox 13 News in Salt Lake City, Hatch noted that "there's a huge . . . lack of support throughout the country for Islam to build that mosque there, but that should not make a difference if they decide to do it."
"I'd be the first to stand up for their rights," said Hatch, a Mormon and longtime supporter of religious freedom who was behind legislation passed in 2000, known as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which aims to protect houses of worship from undue burdens and discrimination from local zoning statutes and other laws.
"So, if the Muslims own that property, that private property, and they want to build a mosque there, they should have the right to do so," Hatch said, noting also that the local Manhattan community board had overwhelmingly approved the construction of the Islamic Center, now known as Park51.
"I just think what's made this country great is we have religious freedom. That's not the only thing, but it's one of the most important things in the Constitution."
Hatch is a Mormon, and noted in the interview that Mormons themselves have historically faced fierce and often violent opposition as they sought to build communities and houses of worship.
But the dispute over the Islamic center near Ground Zero has become so toxic that few other prominent Mormons have extended the kind of support to Park51 that they have to other religious-freedom causes.
Fox New host Glenn Beck opposes construction of the Manhattan facility, as does former Massachusetts governor -- and likely GOP presidential hopeful -- Mitt Romney, both Mormons. Even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Mormon and Nevada Democrat in a fight for his political life, says he's against the mosque, breaking with President Obama's affirmation of the group's right to build the Islamic center -- if not the propriety of the idea.
Hatch said the feelings of those who lost loved ones on Sept. 11 should be considered, but he added:
"We know there were Muslims killed on 9/11 too and we know it's a great religion. . . . But as far as their right to build that mosque, they have that right." The proposed mosque, he said, "is a few blocks away; it isn't right there."
Those arguments have not dented the widespread opposition to the Islamic center.
A Quinnipiac poll of New Yorkers released Tuesday shows that by a 54-40 margin voters agree that "Muslims have the right to build the mosque near Ground Zero" but that by a 53-39 percent margin they believe "that because of the sensitivities of 9/11 relatives, Muslims should not be allowed to build the mosque near Ground Zero."
And by a 71-21 percent majority, voters agree "that because of the opposition of Ground Zero relatives, the Muslim group should voluntarily build the mosque somewhere else."
Source: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/08/31/orrin-hatch-backs-ground-zero-mosque-breaks-with-gop-colleagu/
In an interview over the weekend with Fox 13 News in Salt Lake City, Hatch noted that "there's a huge . . . lack of support throughout the country for Islam to build that mosque there, but that should not make a difference if they decide to do it."
"I'd be the first to stand up for their rights," said Hatch, a Mormon and longtime supporter of religious freedom who was behind legislation passed in 2000, known as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which aims to protect houses of worship from undue burdens and discrimination from local zoning statutes and other laws.
"So, if the Muslims own that property, that private property, and they want to build a mosque there, they should have the right to do so," Hatch said, noting also that the local Manhattan community board had overwhelmingly approved the construction of the Islamic Center, now known as Park51.
"I just think what's made this country great is we have religious freedom. That's not the only thing, but it's one of the most important things in the Constitution."
Hatch is a Mormon, and noted in the interview that Mormons themselves have historically faced fierce and often violent opposition as they sought to build communities and houses of worship.
But the dispute over the Islamic center near Ground Zero has become so toxic that few other prominent Mormons have extended the kind of support to Park51 that they have to other religious-freedom causes.
Fox New host Glenn Beck opposes construction of the Manhattan facility, as does former Massachusetts governor -- and likely GOP presidential hopeful -- Mitt Romney, both Mormons. Even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Mormon and Nevada Democrat in a fight for his political life, says he's against the mosque, breaking with President Obama's affirmation of the group's right to build the Islamic center -- if not the propriety of the idea.
Hatch said the feelings of those who lost loved ones on Sept. 11 should be considered, but he added:
"We know there were Muslims killed on 9/11 too and we know it's a great religion. . . . But as far as their right to build that mosque, they have that right." The proposed mosque, he said, "is a few blocks away; it isn't right there."
Those arguments have not dented the widespread opposition to the Islamic center.
A Quinnipiac poll of New Yorkers released Tuesday shows that by a 54-40 margin voters agree that "Muslims have the right to build the mosque near Ground Zero" but that by a 53-39 percent margin they believe "that because of the sensitivities of 9/11 relatives, Muslims should not be allowed to build the mosque near Ground Zero."
And by a 71-21 percent majority, voters agree "that because of the opposition of Ground Zero relatives, the Muslim group should voluntarily build the mosque somewhere else."
Source: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/08/31/orrin-hatch-backs-ground-zero-mosque-breaks-with-gop-colleagu/