Nuns celebrate one year of blocking Illinois strip club

Last updated on: April 25, 2013 at 10:07 am by CNA Daily News

Nuns celebrate one year of blocking Illinois strip club 2013-04-25T10:07:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Chicago, Ill., Apr 25, 2013 / 04:07 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Residents and religious of a small Chicago suburb rallied to celebrate their so far successful campaign against the opening of a multi-million dollar strip club across from a convent.

“We came together as a community, as people of faith and stood together fighting for family values against what some thought was an unbreakable giant,” Sr. Noemia Silva of the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, Scalabrinian said at an April 22 press conference.

“It’s not only for the sisters, but for the community itself,” she told CNA in a later interview.

Outrage has erupted locally over the building of the strip club, particularly because of its location next to the missionary sisters' convent and retirement home. Proprietors of the club have been accused of breaking state law, which requires a 1,000-foot “buffer zone” between places of worship and such businesses.

“They haven’t respected state law and so we’re going to tell them, ‘You need to respect that,” Sr. Silva said. “This should not have even happened so close to a worship area.”

Although the $3 million “adult entertainment” club, “Get It,” was slated to open during Holy Week of 2012, it has yet to open its doors to the public largely due to community protest and a legal battle between the landowner and building owner.

Sr. Silva said the sisters, who are spread throughout 18 countries, have been praying for the intercession of St. Michael. “All of our communities are praying for this; it’s just constant, constant prayer.”

She likened their fight against the club’s opening to that of David and Goliath. “David won the battle because he trusted in the Good Lord,” she explained. “He’ll fight this battle for us.”

Many locals are worried about what kind of community such an establishment would foster, especially in an area where many young families as well as long-time residents live.

“I raised my children in this community,” Pat Zito, who has lived in the area for 45 years, said. “My children were concerned for my safety if this place opened, for what it would bring.”

Opposition to the club has been steadily growing since last year as other community leaders have joined the sisters in their fight against the club.

Recently with the help of West Suburban Action Project the community gathered in its largest-ever public demonstration as some 500 people assembled for a prayer vigil. Additionally, over 3,000 people have signed petitions against the club.

The community has called on Mayor Beniamino Mazzulla of neighboring Stone Park – which boarders Melrose Park and is home to the massive strip club – to enforce the “buffer-zone” law or to support the case when they take it to court.

If it opens, this would be the sixth strip club in the community.

The Thomas More Society has offered free legal support to the sisters should they choose to take legal action, which they most likely will.

“If the Village of Stone Park does not heed the call of the Sisters to enforce the buffer law,” executive director, Peter Breen, said, “we are ready with a diverse coalition of individuals and organizations to seek relief from the courts.”

Previous Post

April 25, 2013

Sanctity is central to Church outreach, Pope stresses

Next Post

April 25, 2013 Church must evangelize humbly, Pope Francis reflects

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the main theme of the Ten Commandments?

Select your answer to see how you score.

How to live in Jewish society How to live and treat others How to be successful How to earn your way to Heaven