Apr 28, 2006 5:02 pm US/Central
Church Rejects Chicago's Offer To Buy Cemetery
BENSENVILLE (STNG) ―
St. John's Church announced Friday that it has rejected the City of Chicago's offer to purchase St. Johannes Cemetery and will let the matter go to court, according to a release.
The announcement came a week before oral arguments are set to begin in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, adjudicating the extent of First Amendment protection for the church's 157-year-old cemetery, according to the release from the church.
On March 29, the city announced its desire to take over St. Johannes cemetery in return for $630,000. At that time, the City indicated its offer required a response within 30 days, the release said.
In a letter submitted Friday by the St. John's Church Council and pastor, St. John's indicated to the City of Chicago that it found the offer unacceptable, the release said.
"As a Christian congregation, we find this proposal entirely unacceptable and even blasphemous," the letter said. "To even contemplate the offering up of such a sum of money, or any sum of money, with the intent that this congregation would go against our religious faith, is unfathomable and offensive.
"Our cherished religious beliefs are not for trade for any amount of money. Almost sixty years ago, our faithful ancestors faced this same trial, and we are astounded that we are once again confronted with the threat of the desecration of our cemetery. This hallowed resting place is not for sale," the letter said.
St. John's United Church of Christ and several of its members are party to two lawsuits pending in federal courts, the release said. One case was most recently the subject of oral arguments before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in January 2005, and a decision still has not been rendered, the release said. A second case, pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, will be the subject of oral arguments on May 5 in Washington, it said.
Both suits seek to protect the First Amendment rights of the church and its members, and to preserve the sanctity of a sacred resting place from desecration by the city, which wants the land as part of its O'Hare expansion plan, the release said.
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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