[Vision2020] Christ Church and freedom of religion

[Craine Kit]

Paul,

Your first fear has a basis in fact. NSA and Atlas Boys School, both  
associated with Christ Church, somehow landed downtown in violation  
of the Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Code. This may have been the  
result of a flawed zoning enforcement system, but rather than  
addressing that issue, the City changed the law to make it legal.

The school district had the same problem with the alternative high  
school being located in a zone where it was not allowed. Since that  
was the result of the City's error in zoning enforcement, one could  
say that changing the law was the easiest way for the city to get out  
of a sticky mess it created.

However, there are many instances where CC members have ignored/ 
violated the building and zoning codes with impunity (the illegal  
boarding houses are one example). Even when complaints are filed, the  
City goes to great lengths in twisting the code to allow the  
situation. Since other people do not receive the same service and are  
expected to obey the law, it does raise the question of whether there  
is undue influence, political pressure, or other reasons why this  
group appears to be above the law.

Kit Craine

P.S. to the flame throwers: When you reply to this by calling me  
nasty names, have the courage to post it to the entire list.

On Jun 24, 2006, at 11:40 PM, Paul Rumelhart wrote:

> Many thanks to those who have posted in response to my questions.   
> I'm still trying to soak it all up.
>
> I'd like to make a couple of points.  I have two fears that are  
> vying for my attention and are conflicting with each other right  
> now.  For one, I fear that Christ Church as a group will attempt to  
> force members of the community to conform to their beliefs through  
> changes in the law, undue influence in certain areas, or well- 
> organized political tactics.  Opposing that, I also fear that past  
> conflict between members of the church and non-members is getting  
> out of control and creating a situation where this group is being  
> unduly ostracized based on their beliefs.
>
> I fear the first because I am not a member and my beliefs are so  
> different from theirs that such a society as the one they would  
> want to put in place would be a hardship for me.
>
> I fear the second because I treasure the concept of freedom of  
> religion and can't stand to see any one group singled out amongst  
> all the others if it's only theology or personal conflict that is  
> causing the strife.
>
> Some of the points made about the perfect world that this church  
> would like to create frighten me.  Because my theology differs on  
> some really major points with theirs, I would expect to be treated  
> unkindly in this new society.  On the other hand, the members of  
> the church appear to hold the idea of Free Will in high regard and  
> are reasonably horrified at the idea of a forced conversion to  
> their faith.  Which calms my fears somewhat.
>
> Is this church actively trying to change law or procedure here in  
> Moscow in an effort to bring this about?  I don't know enough about  
> our zoning procedures, for example, to know if the church was given  
> undue favor when NSA was allowed downtown.  If this church is being  
> favored over others, then I would have reason to object.  Likewise  
> if members of the community were trying to use the same kinds of  
> methods to stifle this one church over other religious  
> organizations, I would also object to that.
>
> Anyway, thanks again.  I'm learning more as we go along.
>
> Paul
>
>
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