Defiant nuns and monks refuse to give up Kentucky land for gas pipeline

[xchrom]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/02/defiant-nuns-and-monks-refuse-to-give-up-kentucky-land-for-gas-pipeline/




Two Kentucky Catholic religious orders that collectively own more than 3,000 acres of historic farmland are refusing to give up portions of their lands for a proposed natural-gas pipeline that would channel millions of gallons of pressurized, highly flammable natural-gas liquids through the area. According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, the nuns of the Sisters of Loretto and the monks of the Abbey of Gethsemani have denied surveyors permission to survey the land ahead of the pipeline project and say that they have no interest in helping it along.

“We’ve been on this property since 1824,” said Sister Maria Visse, service coordinator for the Sisters of Loretto. “We feel entrusted with this (land). It’s a gift. It’s not a commodity.”

The energy company that hopes to build the pipeline — Williams Co. of Tulsa, Oklahoma — has repeatedly sent representatives and made requests for permission to survey the land, all of which have been summarily denied. The proposed pipeline would run from gas-drilling facilities in Pennsylvania to the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, impacting 18 counties in Kentucky.

Visse told the Courier that she turned down the Williams Co.’s proposal to use the sisters’ and the monks’ land on the spot and without a second thought.

[life long demo]

1. A big round of applause for the Sisters and Monks in

Kentucky.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. I'm sure the govt will side w/big oil and claim eminent domain. But I hope not and yes...congrats

to the people with principles.

[A Little Weird]

5. The governor's son

The governor's son is a lawyer representing the company. So despite opposition from nearly everyone, I suspect this will be shoved down our throats.

http://www.state-journal.com/local%20news/2013/07/31/beshear-s-son-representing-controversial-pipeline-company

But I'm glad these folks are standing up to them. They may have a better chance of stopping them than individual landowners.

[cap]

3. Abbey of Gesthemani is the wrong bunch to mess with

Progressive catholic monastery that is well connected and well loved. Dalai Lama came to visit.

Abbey of Gesthemani is part of the centering prayer movement within Catholic church. Centering prayer is similar to Buddhist meditation. And is focused around silence.

Also, the centering prayer movement is heavily allied with the Eco spirituality movement, pax christi and other progressive groups within the church.

I doubt that the government will assert eminent domain.

[hatrack]

4. There's a headline you don't see every day

Rock on, sisters and brothers!

[limpyhobbler]

6. K&R

good for them.

[Bohemianwriter]

7. Seems that history is repeating itself

The land that the Catholic cult is possessing is not "a gift", but land stolen from Native Americans after committing genocide.

So how does it feel being on the other end, having to defend ones land against greedy corporatists who wants to swarm the land with crude oil and not having anything to say about it?

Ready to turn over your homes to the REAL owners, the Native Americans, and leave the American continent for good?

Other than that, I consider Christianity as fake as a 3-dollar bill, and should not get any special treatment whatsoever.