The 100th birth anniversary of Mother Teresa, which falls on August 26, has attracted controversy in New York after the Empire State Building refused to illuminate the iconic building in honor of her on that day.
Lighting the 102-story high-rise on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in different colors to mark an important date, cause or personality is a New York tradition. The Catholic League requested to illuminate the building in blue and white, the colors of the Missionaries of Charity, which was denied by Anthony Malkin, the owner of the building.
New York City Council Speaker Christine C Quinn, who strongly criticized the refusal has come up with another plan for the day. She declared it 'A Day of Service for Mother Teresa' and asked New Yorkers to light up their homes and businesses in honor of Mother Teresa. "The Empire State Building can go ahead and light their building however they want, I'm putting a light in my window for Mother Teresa," Quinn said.She was joined by Council Members Pete Vallone, Jr, Ydanis Rodriguez, Jimmy Vacca and others.
"The Empire State Building does not have final say on how Mother Teresa's life should be honored. That's why we in the Council are inviting all New Yorkers on August 26th, light up their own windows, homes, businesses in blue and white as a tribute to her.If you can't light up your home then we ask that you take part of that morning, afternoon, or evening and give back to those who are less fortunate. We ask that New Yorkers consider spending some time that day volunteering at a soup kitchen, mentor a young person, visit a senior center or sign up at the City's volunteer website where you'll find many, many places in NYC where you can participate. Lighting up the Empire State Building as a tribute to her would be great. But honoring such an inspiring woman does not have to be limited to a single building," Quinn said.
In a statement the management of the building said they do not light the building for 'religious figures or requests by religions and religious organizations,' though they light up for religious holidays of Easter, Eid-ul-Fitr, Hanukkah and Christmas. "We are saddened by the hateful words and messages being generated both for and against lighting for Mother Teresa's 100th birthday. We surely wish that the emotions of those in favor be directed towards good actions of community service in the spirit of their views, and that those who are against be dignified and respectful in their dialogue," the statement said.
"The Empire State Building's tower lights recognize key milestones, events, charitable organizations, countries, and holidays throughout the world, not political or religion related events. We are privately owned, and our policies and practices are subject to change in accord with ownership's preferences," it said.
Critics noted that the building lighted for singer Mariah Carey, dog shows, cancer charities - and even the 60th anniversary of communist China.
'They're bigots! They have an animus against Catholics!' Catholic League President Bill Donohue, who initially requested the illumination said. He questioned the statement of the management about the policy of not accommodating religion related things. "This is a lie. On April 25, 2009, the tower was aglow in blue and white in recognition of the Salesian Sisters, an order of Roman Catholic nuns," he said. He has called for a protest rally in front of the building on August 26.
'The rally is being held to protest the decision by Anthony Malkin, the owner of the storied building, to deny a tribute to Mother Teresa: our request was originally denied without explanation, and was later denied on appeal by invoking a "policy" that prohibits honoring religious individuals or institutions,' a statement by the League said.
'Mother Teresa's impact on the world was so much greater than one religious group,' Quinn said. Though Catholic, Quinn is openly gay.
'Although we may not universally agree on all of her opinions and actions, Mother Teresa was undoubtedly an example of moral fortitude and self-sacrifice that we can all learn from,' Councilman Rodriguez said.
Mother Teresa died in 1997, at 87, and was beatified, the last step before sainthood.
'It is likelier that Mother Teresa would have preferred that the building be left in the dark and the money saved by not lighting it be given to charity.
Mother Teresa found all the light that she could ever need in the wonderful work that was her life,' Joe Mulvanerton III of Old Bridge, New Jersey wrote in New York Post.
