Mother Teresa

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A proposal by the Catholic League to have Blessed Mother Teresa honoured on her 100th birthday in the lighting scheme for the Empire State Building has won the backing of a leading New York City councilwoman, the group said.

It wanted the building to display blue and white lights, the color of Mother Teresa's order, on the religious sister's 100th birthday on August 26, but its request was declined by the building's management, reports the Catholic News Agency.

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has voiced support for the effort.

"The question of why the building will not be lit is a question that deserves answering," she told the New York Daily News, adding that she thought the lighting scheme should have been approved.

"We urged (the owners of the Empire State Building) to try to find a way to light the building," Quinn continued. "We are all very disappointed."

Jeff Field, director of communications at the Catholic League is quoted by the news agency saying that the group's online petition on the matter has attracted over 30,000 signatures while another 10,000 Catholic League members have pledged support via direct mail.

It has also received letters of support from Indian and US bishops, he said.

Honouring Mother Teresa in its lighting scheme should have been "a no-brainer".

"We thought honouring Mother Teresa was a slam-dunk," he told CNA. "Why not honour a saintly nun who has won the Nobel Peace Prize?"

"But apparently they felt otherwise," he added.

FULL STORY

Effort to have Empire State Building honor Mother Teresa mobilizes 40,000 (Catholic News Agency)

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