This is a Camp Meeting Association Christian exercise class being held in the open as people walk by and hear the music blaring the word of God out of loudspeakers. WE also expect to see Christian Yoga which is a real yoga practice. But does it belong here and will it replace the secular yoga which has been held on the boards for 17 years at least?
New icons with cross at the entrance to the pier area, west and north. Blogfinger photos. 7/29/22 ©
Blogfinger Editorial Board: 7/29/22. Ocean Grove NJ beachfront.
We don’t know if these Christian religious symbols and events are appropriate here in defiance of church vs state standards at a public thoroughfare .
We all cannot be of one mind over this. I know a Grover who becomes irate whenever he sees the big cross on the beach. Another Grover told me that she never noticed the big cross on the beach.
Of course this is CMA property, but they are taking advantage of various privileges, eg tax breaks and making money from beach badges, which they receive because the boardwalk and beach are designated for the public use.
That is what FEMA said when they agreed to use public funds to rebuild the boardwalk, ruling that the boardwalk is a public thoroughfare. So separation of church and state….
The CMA should not be able to have it both ways—-double standards.
An example of having it both ways: The fund raising to bring back the Founders Park fountain was run by the Historical Society–specifically Grover Ted Bell— historian.
Funds were solicited among all Grovers, and it seemed to be a non-religious community effort. I was an early contributor and I thought it was through the Historical Society.
But when it came time to have the dedication at Founders Park it turned into a Christian service complete with hymns and sermons. I was surprised and annoyed. It was not promoted that way.
A visitor came with me. He is an immigrant from Russia, and when he saw what was happening at the event, he asked that we leave. And we did.
Do you think that the pier dedication on Saturday 7/30 will be religious? It probably will be, although the pier will become one of those public thoroughfares. At the very least, there will be a blessing to open this “community event—everyone is invited .”
There is considerable interest on Blogfinger regarding the CMA’s expansive moves. Yesterday we had 732 hits, and most were aimed at our CMA coverage.
What do you think?
THE BAND OF THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT: From the movie. “A Bridge Too Far.”