Trinity Wall Street Episcopal Church Supports Occupy Wall Street, Except When It Comes To...

[cleanhippie]

Trinity Wall Street Episcopal Church Supports Occupy Wall Street, Except When It Comes To Making Property Available to Them


Sometimes, in the ongoing culture war between the 1% and the 99% it is sometimes difficult to tell what side people are on, but supposedly many liberal churches are on the side of Occupy Wall Street. However, there are limits apparently.

Trinity Wall Street Episcopal Church released a statement to the Occupy Wall Street protestors and the congregation this past Sunday after the protestors requested use of their property.

While Trinity does not support breaking the law, it does support the issues the protestors raised. The church extends its hospitality and the use of Church properties during business hours. One can read the full statement on the Church’s website as well as view their announcement during Sunday’s service at the end of this article.

The Church property the protestors wish to use is a mile north of the original camp at Canal Streetand Sixth Avenue. Apparently, the vacant lot, called Duarte Square, belongs to the city and not to the church and according to the church, the lot is not suitable for large encampments.

http://www.goddiscussion.com/86529/trinity-wall-street-episcopal-church-supports-occupy-wall-street-except-when-it-comes-to-making-property-available-to-them/

[JDPriestly]

1. Could be insurance and liability issues?

The church's insurance may not cover overnight encampments?

I don't know. I'm just thinking in writing so to speak.

The church says the property belongs to the city. That can be checked in the property records probably of the county.

[qb]

2. I'm inclined to be grateful for the support they're willing to offer.

[grasswire]

3. well, Trinity Church has a long and troubled property history

The land it sits on was originally part of the property of a woman named Annetje Jans in the 1600s of Nieuw Amsterdam. That land was appropriated by the British when they took over from the Dutch, and it was given to the church by the Duke of York (It was then part of the Church of England). It was not allowed to pass to the heirs of Mrs. Jans. (I'm one of her descendants.) Heirs have attempted over the years to retrieve the land, to no avail.

(If I had inherited it, you can bet no one would be turned away day or night.)