Greek orthodox archdiocese demands church be rebuilt near 9/11 site

NEW YORK - While most Americans are protesting against the building of a Muslim community center and mosque near Ground Zero, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese is using the controversy to highlight its long-stymied effort to have a church that was destroyed on 9/11 rebuilt at the foot of the World Trade Center.

Church officials have received the support of former New York Governor George E. Pataki and Greek-American Congressional candidate from Long Island, George Demos, on Monday to make their case heard.

Government officials are reportedly blocking the reconstruction of St. Nicholas Church, the only house of worship destroyed in the terrorist attacks, The New York Times reports.

Pataki and Demos, drew a sharp line between the rightness of the Greek Orthodox project and the wrongness of the Muslim one.

“We don’t know the funding, we don’t know the view of the people behind it. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the trade center reconstruction site, had failed to “reach out and engage in a dialogue” about rebuilding the church with Greek Orthodox officials,” Pataki said.

Demos claimed that the Islamic center would be built with money from Saudi Arabia, “a nation that prohibits people from even wearing a cross or the Star of David.”

Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, stood beside them saying “It’s unfortunate that it took a controversy over a mosque to bring attention to the church.” (ANI)