Tom Monaghan’s coming Catholic utopia

[Orwell]

City of God
Tom Monaghan’s coming Catholic utopia (http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/top/features/documents/04761831.asp)

Bold talk — but the most dramatic part of Monaghan’s speech is yet to come. Ave Maria won’t be just a university, he continues. It will also be a new town, built from scratch, in which the wickedness of the world will be kept at bay. "We’ve already had about 3500 people inquire on our Web site about buying a home there — you know, they’re all Catholic," Monaghan says excitedly. "We’re going to control all the commercial real estate, so there’s not going to be any pornography sold in this town. We’re controlling the cable system. The pharmacies are not going to be able to sell condoms or dispense contraceptives." A private chapel will be located within walking distance of each home. At the stunning church in the center of town, Mass will be said hourly, seven days a week, from 6 a.m. on. "So," Monaghan concludes, with just a hint of understatement, "it’ll be a unique town." As he exits the stage, the applause is thunderous.

How very charmingly cult like! :crazy:

[ceo_esq]

Originally posted by Orwell

How very charmingly cult like! :crazy: On the other hand, you'll probably be able to order from Domino's 24/7.

Seriously, though - it wasn't very long ago at all that many small towns throughout the Western world resembled this planned community in many respects, but no one thought they were "cult-like".

Anyhow, it's interesting to see that the grand old tradition of American utopianism is still with us. Pennsylvania was founded as a more or less similar experiment by that other cultist, William Penn.

[Ed]

It's a wonderful idea for those that like that sort of thing. More power to him. The problem is that he is going to have to deal with the insidious impact of the internet and it's associated porn and stuff.

[Darat]

Originally posted by ceo_esq
On the other hand, you'll probably be able to order from Domino's 24/7.

Seriously, though - it wasn't very long ago at all that many small towns throughout the Western world resembled this planned community in many respects, but no one thought they were "cult-like".

Anyhow, it's interesting to see that the grand old tradition of American utopianism is still with us. Pennsylvania was founded as a more or less similar experiment by that other cultist, William Penn.

In the UK we have quite a few of these communities that were founded by individuals (generally by very successful merchants), many who had quite at least rigid if not out and out weird beliefs and were quite happy to make it clear how their residents should and must live.

Two still thriving examples are the villages of Port Sunlight http://www.portsunlight.org.uk/ and Bourneville http://www.bvt.org.uk/indexx.html?url=http://www.bvt.org.uk/history/Awards.html&nav=history/historystop.html

[DaChew]

Cool. I'm going to apply to be one of those religious cops like they've got in Saudi Arabia. I mean, somebody's going to have to go on porn raids right?

[Tony]

I bet the "catholic purity" of this "community" barely lasts 2 generations.

[headscratcher4]

Originally posted by Tony
I bet the "catholic purity" of this "community" barely lasts 2 generations.

You are very optimistic...given human history...not to mention the purity of the Vatican since about day one...

[Orwell]

Wanna make an easy buck? Open a store on the outskirts of town (just outside their jurisdiction) that sells contraceptives and porn.

[Ed]

Originally posted by Orwell
Wanna make an easy buck? Open a store on the outskirts of town (just outside their jurisdiction) that sells contraceptives and porn.

And dope and inflatable Virgin Mary's.:D

[sackett]

Crazy talk — but the craziest part of Monaghan’s speech is yet to come. Dark Age won’t be just a monastery, he babbles. It will include a cluster of wattle-and-daub huts, built from dung, in which the serfs will be kept confined. "You know they’ll all be Catholic," Monaghan says threateningly. "We’re going to control everything, so there’s not going to be any heresy in this village. We’re controlling the caste system. The pharmacies are not going to sell anything beyond herbs and dried weeds." A compulsory chapel will be located within walking distance of each hovel. At the grotesque cathedral in the center of town, Mass will be said loudly, seven days a week, from 3 a.m. on. "So," Monaghan concludes, with a glint of mania, "it’ll be a unique patch of misery." As he exits the stage, the applause is non-thunderous.

[TragicMonkey]

Originally posted by Tony
I bet the "catholic purity" of this "community" barely lasts 2 generations.

Especially considering that without contraceptives, the next generation will outnumber their parents by seven to one.

[Mr. Skinny]

Originally posted by TragicMonkey
Especially considering that without contraceptives, the next generation will outnumber their parents by seven to one.
Sounds like the German-Catholic farming community my mother grew up in. My mom's sister, who still lives there, has 12 children and 55 grandchildren, and most of them still live in the general area.

I'm not sure if George's General store there carries contraceptives or not. Probably not, cause it's right across the street from the Catholic church, but hey, it's the only store in town. :)

[headscratcher4]

It actually sounds a lot like visiting Spain under Franco...I wonder if they will build in space in the village center for auto de' fes?

[Regnad Kcin]

Originally posted by Orwell
Wanna make an easy buck? Open a store on the outskirts of town (just outside their jurisdiction) that sells contraceptives and porn. Add to that a delivery service: "To Your Door In 30 Minutes Or Less, Or It's Free!"

[Beerina]

Nevermind. Someone beat me to the punch.