Um, wait a minute...

[metawidget]

I will be very disappointed if our otherwise budget-conscious governments decide to help (by ceding land or kicking in funds) build a giant religious structure, as Mr. Jaziri Saïd is suggesting (for the record, any cathedral still acting as a cathedral's upkeep should be the problem of the church using it). Just because all the cool mid-Eastern monarchies' taxpayers are kicking in, doesn't mean we should.

In other news, the donated computer continues to flake out. Gift horses and all, I guess, but I can't pass my old clunker on without a reliable replacement, and this new one isn't it just yet.

Comments

[blueheron.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with you here. While a nice mosque would add some nice new architecture to Montreal, I do not think that our city should be supporting /any/ religion that way.

There are plenty of new churches whose members fundraise and work hard to get their buildings off the ground. Pagan groups are often looking for places of worship, etc.

[metawidget]

Another thought is that with our provincial deficit, that mosque would technically be built with interest-bearing money, which should be a giant problem for muslims...

[montrealais.livejournal.com]

On one hand, I approve of gov't programs to upkeep important religious buildings, since they're a part of the built heritage of the whole community. On the other hand, I don't care for the idea of them building new ones, any more than I would want the gov't building a Catholic church.

A mosque would be great, but let them buy the land like everyone else. Or else I want the gov't to build a Pagan grove for us.

[metawidget]

I suppose upkeep might be OK of an historic site, but one that's actively being used... I think the government shouldn't be building or maintaining active places of worship, particularly where tithes and honoraria are being collected.

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

I think I'd agree to an historic church getting government funding from taxpayers, even if it's still being used. But I'd feel the same way for a bank or a market or any other old building in private hands.

As for building new ones, I'm very uncomfortable with that. What religious groups will get approved? Which will be left out?