NEW YORK (CNS) – Brushing off calls from political leaders and others to reconsider, the Empire State Building management stood by its decision to deny a request that the building pay tribute to Blessed Mother Teresa with a lighting display on the 100th anniversary of her birth Aug. 26.
A protest outside the iconic Manhattan building will be held instead, led by William A. Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.
The U.S. Postal Service is scheduled to issue a commemorative stamp bearing Mother Teresa's image the same day.
Mother Teresa, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, died Sept. 5, 1997. Pope John Paul II beatified her in 2003.
Mr. Donohue submitted a request in February that the building be lit to honor Mother Teresa with blue and white lights, the colors of the habits of the Missionaries of Charity. She founded the order in Calcutta, India.
In a June 11 statement, building owner Anthony Malkin said his decision not to light the building is "final and irrevocable."
Mr. Donohue said June 14, "If he thinks that I'm the only one taking exception to his decision to stiff Mother Teresa, then let him try taking a stroll down 34th Street on the evening of August 26."
He also accused Mr. Malkin and Empire State Building officials of not telling the truth with their explanation that their guidelines for lighting "do not accommodate requests for religious figures or requests by religions and religious organizations."
He pointed out that the building was lit in honor of the centennial of the Salesian sisters April 25, 2009, and he has released what he said is a copy of the Feb. 2 application he submitted for the Mother Teresa lights. That copy does not mention guidelines or lighting policies.
The current application form published on the Empire State Building's website does include guidelines barring religious figures, however. Neither Malkin's spokesman nor other Empire State Building officials responded to requests for comment from Catholic New York, newspaper of the New York Archdiocese.
A statement issued by the privately owned building noted that it honors the religious holidays of Easter, Christmas, Hanukkah and Eid al-Fitr.
"We are saddened by the hateful words and messages being generated both for and against lighting for Mother Teresa's 100th birthday," the statement said, adding a wish that those in favor of lighting direct their emotions to community service and those opposed to the lighting be "dignified and respectful in their dialogue."
In 2000, the building was illuminated with red and white lights to mark the death of New York Cardinal John O'Connor; the colors symbolized his position as cardinal. When Pope John Paul II died in 2005, the tower went dark.
Other displays have included red and gold lighting last year to mark the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, and purple, pink and white lights in 2008 to mark the release of a new Mariah Carey album.
Meanwhile, a movement was building for New Yorkers to honor the beloved sainthood candidate with tributes of their own.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, one of the first to criticize the Empire State Building's stance, was urging city residents to place blue and white lights in their windows Aug. 26. She also joined Bronx Councilman James Vacca in getting the Hutchinson Metro Center, a Bronx office complex, to be lit up in the colors.
Others signing on for honors include the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, which announced it will light up in blue and white for Mother Teresa's 100th birthday, and Brooklyn Borough President Martin Markowitz, who agreed to light up Borough Hall there.
In addition, Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. has introduced a City Council resolution formally requesting the iconic skyscraper to honor the late nun, whose mission was to serve "the poorest of the poor."
"She deserves better. She's one of the greatest women history has ever known," Mr. Vallone said.
