The mayor of Toms River, New Jersey, says he has a plan to revitalize the town’s riverfront and to create a new park for local families who live nearby. He’s found the perfect spot— three underused marinas and a large parcel of land with a great parking lot.
There’s just one problem. A local Episcopal church sits on the 11-acre property and has no interest in selling. Instead, church leaders want to build a shelter for the homeless on the property to expand their ministry in the community.
Mayor Daniel Rodrick, a Republican, said God would approve of his plan.
“There’s a real need for the local residents up in those neighborhoods to be able to walk somewhere and put their kids on a swing,” said Rodrick in a recent phone interview. “I just think it’s a very positive thing. And I believe Christ would agree.”
5 Comments
harrys_balzac@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 20 pts · 1y
This mayor is exactly the kind of BS that Jefferson was afraid of when he wrote that there needs to be "a wall of separation of church and state."
karashta@lemm.ee · 18 pts · 1y
Yes, clearly Christ would want people of relative affluence to have a park rather than you help the homeless.
"If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” – 1 John 3:17
FrChazzz@lemm.ee · 17 pts · 1y
As an Episcopal priest myself, I’ll be keeping an eye on this story… I guess since we’re the “wrong” kind of Christians (y’know, because we do same-sex marriages and have LGBT+ clergy and all), a Republican has no problem trying to steal one of our churches out from under us.
PalmTreeIsBestTree@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 1y
True, you all actually benefit your community. When the schism happened in the Methodists church near me, all the homophobes left the United Church. I was happy to see the United Church put up a billboard near me that wasn’t some Catholic anti-abortion nonsense; it was a message about how hate divides us and love unites us. I am no religious man, but I appreciate the ones who want to make society a better place for everyone.
NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io · 13 pts · 1y
Why am I not surprised it's a Republican?