Posted on 04/12/2006 7:41:53 AM PDT by presidio9
The Port Authority scrapped plans yesterday to uproot and lock away the steel cross at Ground Zero after revelations about the move in the Daily News sparked an uproar. The iconic symbol - which has comforted many since the crossed beams were found in the rubble of the World Trade Center - was quietly headed for a hangar at Kennedy Airport in the fall to keep it safe during construction.
But an exclusive story about that plan in yesterday's News set off a wave of Holy Week horror from the religious community to construction unions - and the PA backed off.
"We recognize the importance of the crossed beams, which have been a fixture at the World Trade Center site since 9/11," the agency said in a statement.
"We are exploring opportunities to relocate this important artifact to a nearby accessible public location while construction moves forward."
Sources said the cross might end up on the Church St. side of St. Peter's Catholic Church, a block north of Ground Zero, until a permanent location is decided.
"If we can be of any help, we will be," said the Rev. Kevin Madigan, the pastor of St. Peter's. "The cross shouldn't be a cause for division, especially during Holy Week."
The Rev. Brian Jordan, who said many a Sunday Mass for Ground Zero recovery workers in the shadow of the cross, felt "betrayed" by the PA's plan for the cross.
"It can't end up in some dusty hangar out at Kennedy Airport," said Jordan, of St. Francis of Assisi Church in midtown. "To put it out there would be an outrageous defamation of a beautiful symbol."
Jordan, who favors St. Peter's as an interim location, said he was asked hundreds of times after 9/11, "Why did God do this?"
"I told everyone, 'God didn't do this. These were evil acts of men who abused their free will,'" he said. "But when the cross was found - we know it's a T-beam - it was visual evidence that God never abandoned us at Ground Zero."
Edward Malloy, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, said his members helped recover and mount the cross and "they'd be reluctant to move it unless there was a commitment to make it part of the permanent memorial."
Meanwhile, Brooklyn construction worker Frank Silecchia, who discovered the cross on Sept. 13, 2001, is praying it stays. "For Jews, Christians, Buddhists and Muslims, it brings people to their faith," he said.
"Those who reject Me, I will reject before My Father.<'>
Just in time for Easter Sunday .... now that's planning.
There are some collections of photos relevant to the 9-11 attacks (including aftermath) being archived at several museums. Anyone know if the top image is among any collection?
Islam is the religion of Satan, never forget.
I saw that on Sept.11th.
I can think of a few cretins here on FR that would cheer the removal of that cross.
Good thing there's only a few of them!
The secularists have been scheming to get rid of the cross from day one.You cannot take your eyes off them for a minute.
They will be re-building the Church, I understand. The cross could go there IF the "earthly powers" of NYC cannot be persauded to keep the cross at ground zero.
No, Frank... muslims HATE the very idea of the cross and the VICTORY OVER SATAN that it represents and the mere sight of it brings out that devilish monster in them.
"I can think of a few cretins here on FR that would cheer the removal of that cross. "
I'm a Jew and this cross doesn't mean anything to me personally, after all there were many, many cross beams in the structure. Of course some survived.
Having said that, I'm fine with it staying! I understand that it has a deep emotional meaning to many people, and leaving it there for them experience that doesn't harm me at all. In fact, I'd prefer that it be left as a symbol of faith and renewal for many people, so that 9/11/01 won't be forgotten.
Hope you have a lovely Passover Adam.
THAT should be the memorial.
Don't go there. There is no conceivable reason for the removal of this symbol except that it makes liberals uncomfortable.
They need to do something with it quickly. The iron will rust and it will deteriorate unless it is repainted and hopefully sealed with zinc chromate like our Navy ships. The symbology is important, not only for Christians and Jews, but to let the Islamic world know that we are not kowtowing to their false religion no way, no how.................
The 2 crosses depicted in your pictures are different. If Adam is correct that there were many more, then there should be plenty to go around for nearby churches.
But I think the one that the workers were praying at should be part of the memorial...
in no way am i being disrespectful to their memory--
but when i saw that image -
i saw and still see---clinton.
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