Here we go again.
A new religious organization moves in that is not Roman Catholic, Protestant or Jewish and the local government, this time the Mineola Village Board, “reserves decision” on a special-use application that will allow the organization to use the property that it has already purchased.
Shame on everyone involved in this thinly veiled affront to freedom of religion.
We reported last week that a guru from the Mahraz Darshan Das movement made a presentation to board members of his group’s plans to use a building at 115 Jericho Turnpike as an ashram for religious education, community outreach and his group’s spiritual practices. In fact, said Avtar Matharoo, his group has already, “started preaching spirituality here.”
No one attending the board meeting reported any problems or disruption to their lives.
“We’ve never had any complaints from neighbors,” Matharoo said.
In a bewildering statement, village resident Jamie Silva said, “Not that we own the area, but we do have a right to it. I don’t know where you’re intending to put these cars.” She added that she was also concerned about cooking in the building.
Matharoo said “We’ll be practicing spirituality, not religion,” and would only be heating lentils and heating tortillas in the basement of the building for meals following its spiritual meetings.
We’re not certain what the difference is between spirituality and religion, but we are sure that both are covered by the First Amendment. Matharoo said his organization is applying for tax-exempt status.
Village resident Bill Urianek said he objected to the property being removed from the tax rolls. “I don’t want to subsidize someone else,” he said.
Does Urianek also object to millions of dollars in property currently used for churches, synagogues and religious-run schools?
The same standard must apply to every religious organization. Either they are all tax exempt or none are.
The board also reserved decision on a Christian group seeking to establish a house of worship on the second floor of 500 Jericho Turnpike, formerly the site of a Blockbuster video store, pending a review by the Nassau County Planning Commission.
We would be impressed if we learned that the leaders of the Catholic Diocese and the established Jewish organizations stood up in support of both applications.
Likewise we would like to hear the board say, once and for all, that newcomers will be treated the same as the established religions.
