Final Report of the Interfaith Commission to Study the Landmarking of Religious Property


COMMISSION OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Officially representing Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Jewish Communities of the City of New York
 

Interfaith Commission to Study the Landmarking of Religious Property

Statement of Principles

WE AFFIRM the constitutional principle that no governmental agency may interfere with the free exercise of religion, including interference with the right of a synagogue or church to determine where and under what circumstances it shall worship and excise its mission and ministries or how it should deploy its resources and assets held for these purposes.

WE AFFIRM the principle that the effective utilization of the property and resources of a religious organization in aid of its worship and its mission and ministry of providing spiritual, emotion and material aid to the people of our City – often to those least able otherwise to obtain it – is a principle of far higher social priority than the otherwise laudable goal of preserving samples of certain distinctive buildings.

WE AFFIRM the principle that the management and utilization of the resources of a synagogue and church, including the maintenance, alteration, demolition or sale of its buildings are responsibilities of the religious congregation or organization and, therefore, should be subject solely to its own discretion in accord with its own polity, recognizing that all such decision should be undertaken in compliance with appropriate regulations affect the public safety and health.

– Adopted May 20, 1981

 

 

 

 

  
  STEERING COMMITTEE

The Rev. N. J. L'Heureux, Jr.

  Chairman - 212.847-6764

Rabbi Allen S. Kaplan

  Secretary - 212.879-8415

 

Roman Catholic

Archdiocese of New York

    1011 First Avenue

    New York City 10022

    212.371-1000

  The Rev. Kenneth G. Jadoff

  The Rev. Msgr. Philip M. Mulcahy

  The Rev. Edwin F. O'Brien

Diocese of Brooklyn

    Post Office Box C

    Brooklyn, New York 11202

    212.638-5500

  The Rev. Ignatius A. Catanello

  The Rev. Robert P. Kennedy

 

Protestant & Orthodox

Council of Churches

of the City of New York

    475 Riverside Drive Ste 456

    New York City 10115

    212.749-1214

  Ms. Paule Alexander

  The Rev. T. Thomas Boates

  The Rev. Robert C. Chapman

  The Rev. Carl Flemister

  The Rev. Dr. Robert L. Polk

  The Rev. Dr. John Poulos

  The Rev. John A. Spalding

  The Rev. Dr. Charles H. Straut, Jr.

Queens Federation of Churches

    86-17 105th Street

    Richmond Hill, New York 11418

    212.847-6764

  The Rev. Walton James

  The Rev. N. J. L'Heureux, Jr.

 

Jewish

New York Board of Rabbis

    10 East 73rd Street

    New York City 10021

    212.879-8415

  Rabbi Abraham I. Feldbin

  Rabbi Dr. Samuel Geffen

  Rabbi Morris M. Goldberg

  Rabbi Paul L. Hait

  Rabbi Allen S. Kaplan

  Rabbi Judah Washer

Interfaith Chaplaincy Committee

  The Rev. Joseph M. Dolan

  Sister Julie Houser

  Rabbi Allen S. Kaplain

  The Rev. George L. Lloyd

  The Rev. Msgr. Philip M. Mulcahy

 
Queens Federation of Churches http://www.QueensChurches.org/ Last Updated February 2, 2005