'Domino's Pizza [extra toppings] & No Abortion'....
Pizza Magnate Seeks Catholic-Governed Town
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March 1, 2006
NAPLES, Fla. (AP) - If Domino's Pizza founder Thomas S. Monaghan has his way, a new town being built in Florida will be governed according to strict Roman Catholic principles, with no place to get an abortion, pornography or birth control.
The pizza magnate is bankrolling the project with at least $250 million and calls it "God's will."
Civil libertarians say the plan is unconstitutional and are threatening to sue.
The town of Ave Maria is being constructed around Ave Maria University, the first Catholic university to be built in the United States in about 40 years.
Both are set to open next year about 25 miles east of Naples in southwestern Florida.
The town and the university, developed in partnership with the Barron Collier Co., an agricultural and real estate business, will be set on 5,000 acres with a European-inspired town center, a massive church and what planners call the largest crucifix in the nation, at nearly 65 feet tall. Monaghan envisions 11,000 homes and 20,000 residents.
During a speech last year at a Catholic men's gathering in Boston, Monaghan said that in his community, stores will not sell pornographic magazines, pharmacies will not carry condoms or birth control pills, and cable television will have no X-rated channels.
Homebuyers in Ave Maria will own their property outright. But Monaghan and Barron Collier will control all commercial real estate in the town, meaning they could insert provisions in leases to restrict the sale of certain items.
"I believe all of history is just one big battle between good and evil. I don't want to be on the sidelines," Monaghan, who sold Domino's Pizza in 1998 to devote himself to doing good works, said in a recent Newsweek interview.
Robert Falls, a spokesman for the project, said Tuesday that attorneys are still reviewing the legal issues and that Monaghan had no comment in the meantime.
"If they attempt to do what he apparently wants to do, the people of Naples and Collier County, Florida, are in for a whole series of legal and constitutional problems and a lot of litigation indefinitely into the future," warned Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.
Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist said it will be up to the courts to decide the legalities of the plan. "The community has the right to provide a wholesome environment," he said. "If someone disagrees, they have the right to go to court and present facts before a judge."
Gov. Jeb Bush, at the site's groundbreaking earlier this month, lauded the development as a new kind of town where faith and freedom will merge to create a community of like-minded citizens.
Bush, a convert to Catholicism, did not speak specifically to the proposed restrictions.
"While the governor does not personally believe in abortion or pornography, the town, and any restrictions they may place on businesses choosing to locate there, must comply with the laws and constitution of the state and federal governments," Russell Schweiss, a spokesman for the governor, said Tuesday.
Frances Kissling, president of the liberal Washington-based Catholics for a Free Choice, likened Monaghan's concept to Islamic fundamentalism.
"This is un-American," Kissling said. "I don't think in a democratic society you can have a legally organized township that will seek to have any kind of public service whatsoever and try to restrict the constitutional rights of citizens."
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'corporate greed' or just plain stupid...
OK --if the Mormons can get away with fence around Utah...maybe [Naples, Fl]..can build a 'holy city'...
Using 'abortion' as a political football is down-right insane --'if every male politician' knew what a woman has to go through every month --and what '9-months' of pregnancy' is about...I don't believe 'abortion' would we even an issue....
most people that are against abortion will never become pregnant, are too fat to be pregnant, too old and too stupid...
Naples
Unfortunately this community fits right in with the thinking of the ultraright glitterati that runs Naples and the surrounding area. Remember that tape of Dumbya speaking at a $25,000 a plate dinner in his honor before the last Presidential election (?) That was held right here in Naples. Dumbya referred to these FAT CATS as his "BASE" and boy, was he right (for once).
Would someone please explain
to me what is "wholesome"
about banning condoms?
What about the spread of AIDS
and STDs? All the inhabitants of
this town are to be virgins when they
marry and they will never " stray"?
Gimme a break!!
And what about the ability
And what about the ability for person to be born with AIDS? You don't "grow out" of AIDS but Republicans probably believe that by being baptized, they are "cleansed" of it.
"They want the federal government controlling Social Security
like it's some kind of federal program."
- George W. Bush in a debate in St. Charles, Mo., Nov. 2, 2000
Pizza
Submarine USS Wahoo ss238
This is one of the most ignorant things I have heard yet..
Sounds like the old Crust has lost his mind, he is laying
it on too thick.
People have the right to do whatever they want
with their own sausage and olives.
Sounds like we need to boycott Dominos.....
"Discrimination in 30minutes or less.............."
It figures Jeb would be there to lend his support
More from the Pizza Pope nut-job!
Here is a prime example of how the religious-right and most likely Bush, derive their insane notion that they are above the law.
Monaghan's justification for trying to build an unconstitutional town and ignore seperation of church and state:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2058771,00.html
It appears that whenever the fundies break the law they simply claim its "God's will" and that gets them off the hook!
"Its time to replace fear with hope. This is the crucial message that America must begin to hear and believe in again. For hope is the mortal enemy of fear; and fear cannot succeed in the solidarity of inspired hope."
Naples...Don't get me on a rant!
Betty, you are preaching to the choir about Naples! I live right smack in the middle of "Republican Spook Center!"
Naples draws 'fat cat' republicans like a moth to a flame! Naples drips and oozes Bushites!
I can't wait to flaunt my new Impeach Bush magnetic bumper sticker down Fifth Ave South!
"Its time to replace fear with hope. This is the crucial message that America must begin to hear and believe in again. For hope is the mortal enemy of fear; and fear cannot succeed in the solidarity of inspired hope."
update...
Whatever one might think of Tom Monaghan's selection of social causes, and no matter how one views the question of direct versus indirect underwriting of them via pizza monies, it's all moot now.
These days none of the revenues that flow into Domino's reach this controversial man, so no portion of what a customer pays for a medium pepperoni-and-cheese funds the causes he supports.
Monaghan sold his Domino's Pizza empire to Bain Capital Inc. for $1 billion in 1998. He now runs the Ave Maria Foundation, which supports Ave Maria College, a separate law school and a system of elementary schools.
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IMO: Blood is thicker than water...
…and it conveniently
…and it conveniently leaves out 99.99% of Christianity.
You know the stuff that takes work, guts and a heart, mind, and soul.
You know, I was suitably
You know, I was suitably horrified by this until my wife pointed something out. Think about it, who is going to want to live in a place like this? Only the right wing freaks and nut jobs. I say we encourage them to build 2-3 of these places. If we can get all of these nutters in one place we can know where to avoid, keep them out of our hair, etc. Maybe we can like.. give them south dakota? They can all move there. Do what ever they want. Hell, let them be their own country. The less influence and interaction we have to have with them the better!
'some things are better kept secret'...
if whack-jobs like the [right-wing] are trying to change America...[for the most part]...their beliefs and ideaology isn't for 'all'...
What's unusual in the states vs the world; is that in other religions [i.e -Islam]..."gay" is widely acceptable...in Saudi Arabia for the most part; 'young women are 'virgins' until they marry --the bachelor [male] has to have a 'male escort' [lover] friend with him at all times --before they commit to a woman and marry her...[and this practice is common]..
when I worked in Jeddah/Saudi Arabia --it's public acceptance for the man [bachelor] to hold hands and kiss his male companiion--before his wedding...[I freaked]...although accepted the idea [like in 'BrokeBack Mountain]...
somehow the religious right in this country --must have a 'kink' or two somewhere in their closet -- in order to justify so much 'prayer' and 'holiness' that consumes their lives on a daily basis. --
Home-schooled kids and those people that 'ponder away' at the depraved society [as they view it]...must have other diversions that offset such insanity.
THE GOV'T NEEDS TO STOP STICKING ITS NOSE IN OUR BUSSINESS
I have to say one thing, as a male never having felt the things a woman has to go through why the hell is abortion such a big deal. For one thing if you just practiced safe sex (use a condom etc...) this wouldn't be a problem, but sometimes you can't afford the medical bills of having the baby or dealing with the trauma of knowing some baby is not going to ever know his/her real mother or father. PLus it helps with stem cell research and with that research thier are endless possibility. ( cure for some diseases etc...) All I'm saying is the gov't should not tell use what we can and can't do with our bodies. Next thing you know (besides abortion) they will have some BS story about why circumcistions are wrong ! ! ! !
2,279 Dead And Rising In The Iraq War
And We Impeached Clinton Over A Dress
You think this is about
You think this is about abortion? Just wait! All those Catholics sitting on the Supreme Court will make it illegal to use ANY birth control - including those condoms. Society will become poor, over-populated and diseased because of THEIR beliefs.
"They want the federal government controlling Social Security
like it's some kind of federal program."
- George W. Bush in a debate in St. Charles, Mo., Nov. 2, 2000