This is another example of the disturbing trend we are seeing towards a theocratic society. Now that the supreme court is on the brink of becoming a rubber stamp for every Thomas Monaghan or James Dobson, we are in deep trouble. It is so perfect that this project is happening in Florida, a state where they already don't count your vote and the official state motto is “In God we Trust”, really.

What an interesting and engaging post. I thought about it and have divergent thoughts on this establishment of a Catholic ‘Pleasantville'. The idea of any community where there are limitations on the diversity of the population seems alarming and insulative to me. There must be some value to dialogue with opposing ideals, though at the current time it seems that divisiveness is at an all time high. There seems to be no need to see the other side. On the other hand, would I want these wacky fundamentalists living next door to me? Hell no. Maybe it's better that they keep to themselves. As long as they don't form a militia. Thanks for the post! Heads up- your comment area is screwed up and I’ve lost data trying to post here. Had to write it in Word first.

The worst part was that J.Bush sanctioned it!!! This church and state thing seems to be observed very little nowadays.

This story gets me so upset! What the hell is wrong with the people in this country? I think we have a silent majority that sits back and says “oh that's bad” but they don't get off their collective asses and do anything! What's wrong with being a liberal? Can't us liberals just get a spine, direction, HELP! The fanatical right wing is going to destroy our great country and the Democrats will be arguing about who knows what. WAKE UP and smell the coffee. I don't want to live in a country run by a Republican Taliban. Ok, enough ranting….

I heard on Air America news this morning that a southern state, possibly Mississippi, had some local politician proposing legislation that would make “Christianity” the official state religion. No conflict there!

I stopped eating Dominos Pizza after I got out of college. That was when I discovered good food. I hope others will put their money where their mouth is? Or is it their mouth where their money is? Or maybe it should be where their party is. If people think politics and our food don’t mix, then they’re probably delivering pizzas.

My first take is that this is terrifying—but really, I just don’t believe a community can cut itself off that completely in an age of easy information & movement. Even if every person who moves there is absolutely in tune with the founder, eventually they are going to produce some teenagers. Who will be able to hop on a bus for, say, NYC, where they can visit porn stores or bagelries, and enjoy really excellent pizza.

So many alternatives to Dominos

Isn’t this just the way of the the Roman Catholic religion. Take over an area and claim it as their own, be damned the consequenses on the environment (Florida Panthers are beautiful & amazing). and What happens if someone in the town is suspected of breaking these “rules”? I smell an Inquisition!! Witch Hunt anyone?

I'm not sure why it is "imposing his religious beliefs on an entire community" for this guy to build a town that only people who willingly want to live in such a place would move into. It sounds more like he's creating a community that, while not somewhere i would ever want to live, some people may. In this country people have the right to religious freedom, including living together in the same community if that's what they want to do, what about this is so scary? Is the right wing alarmed that the Village exists in NYC as an area popular for artistic expression and alternative lifestyles? This article sounds more reactionary than liberal to me.

If this town were a private community, it would be OK. But it isn't; their infrastructure would be financed by taxpayer dollars just like any other town. In that context, it's undemocratic and probably unconstitutional. And while it's true the West Village encourages alternative lifestyles, they're entirely optional. There's a big difference. The right to religious freedom also entails the right not have others impose their religious beliefs on us; what about women who have to take birth control pills for medical reasons rather than to prevent procreation? In Monahan's town, they would be out of luck.