When will the CMA shine a new light on itself? The Youth Temple in Ocean Grove, NJ. Eileen Goldfinger photo. November, 2022.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net
The reemergence of the religious beach badge issue coincides with resurgent opposition to a cross shaped pier design as put forth by Neptune United. (NU)*
And there is Blogfinger’s complaint regarding the créche in the park and our concern about the CMA’s expanded religious programming in public spaces around town and in their expressed wish to turn Ocean Grove into a modern-day “Christian Seaside Resort.”
In addition we have written about church vs state issues** as has NU.*
And finally we see that the OGHOA is planning a “forum” next month regarding concerns between the CMA and what the Groaners call the “non-religious group” in town.
There is opposition to CMA policies in Ocean Grove, but that has nothing to do with religion and should not be framed that way.
There is no definable group in town called “non-religious.” What we have is a majority group characterized by residents who are often secular, and that word here refers to people whose lives are not predominantly defined by their religions. You can be religious and secular at the same time, and it is a mistake for the HOA to get tangled up with words that don’t fit or can’t be accurately defined in the Grove. This “forum” can only create unfocused and potentially explosive divisions in town. They should either reframe what they are up to or cancel their cockamamie “forum” now.
Given the CMA’s pushing its religious agenda in the Grove, as documented many times in Blogfinger.net, it is not surprising that a backlash is emerging in opposition. And this backlash is not anti-Christian. It is about the policies of the CMA which is a religious organization and not a church, as the NU has pointed out.
The CMA is one faction in town and no longer gets to run the show as it did for their first 111 years . If they are going to be aggressive because of their land ownership, then Neptune must intervene and seek nonreligious policies for public spaces here.
Hopefully all this activity will not coalesce into a serious confrontation.
The CMA should reassess its agendas in the Grove and to begin to recognize the existence of a diverse and secular residential community which doesn’t want OG to once again be known as a religious town. It was bad enough when we were called “Ocean Grave.”
It appears that the CMA will have to reverse its direction if it wants community harmony here.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State says: **
“The separation of church and state guarantees religious freedom, a fundamental right. Americans United shields our shared laws from the influence of any one religion so we can be free to come together as equals and build a stronger democracy.”
Link to our November 7, 2022 article about Neptune United: *
Blogfinger reports on Neptune United Nov. 7, 2022
ALEXANDRE DESPLAT. “Elisa and Zelda” from the soundtrack of the film The Shape of Water.