Nuns Protest ‘Porno Palace’ Strip Club Launching Next to Their Convent
- Posted on March 23, 2012 at 7:29am by
Billy Hallowell
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There’s a bizarre drama unfolding in Melrose Park, Illinois, as a new strip club is scheduled to open next to a Catholic convent. The two buildings couldn’t be more different in terms of their intended usage, but the main conflict seems to center upon a “buffer zone” and an alleged failure to alert the nuns of the coming “attraction.” Catholic News Agency reports:
A $3 million strip club preparing to open next to a Catholic convent in an Illinois village is in violation of a state “buffer zone,” a legal group representing local residents and the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo has charged.
“For over 60 years, the Sisters of St. Charles have devoted their lives to teaching the children of Stone Park – service for which they’re now being repaid with a ‘porno palace’ towering over their convent,” Peter Breen, executive director of the Chicago-based Thomas More Society, said March 13.
“This facility was located in clear violation of state law, and zoning permissions were given without notice to the Sisters, whose convent is located immediately next to this facility.”
In 2010, the establishment — which will feature partially nude women and alcohol — apparently began seeking permission to build. Local officials claim that two public hearings were held, but letters of notification were apparently sent to the wrong address based on an “error.”
The club, called “Get It,” is going to be 18,000 square feet and will be located only feet away from the convent’s property line. In a fit or irony, Catholic News Service reports that the business will open its doors during Holy Week, with a “dry run” scheduled for April 1.
The argument on the nun’s behalf is that proper notification about the project was allegedly not given. CNA continues:
Sr. Madonna Daltoe, treasurer of the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo Scalabrinians, told EWTN News in February the sisters objected to the club on the grounds that it would add to the village’s social problems and would affect the prevalence of Christian values in the community.
Breen told a March 12 Stone Park Village Board meeting that state law requires a one-mile “buffer zone” between adult entertainment facilities and “places of worship.”
“It makes me feel sad because they don’t have any consideration for the community here in Stone Park,” added Sister Noemi Silva. ”You know, miracles happen. My dream is that this place will turn into a library for Stone Park, which we don’t have one right now.”
But the owner takes a different view and touts the jobs his establishment will bring to the community.
“We’re going to create jobs for waiters and waitresses and bus boys and janitors and maintenance workers and parking lot attendants, you know, the kind of jobs that people need,” said Bob Itzkow, the club’s owner.
The nuns have been joined by protesters who stand opposed to the strip club’s presence.
(H/T: Catholic News Agency)
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Comments (102)
Apple Bite
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 10:13amIt’s an outrage, but you know what? How many times have we seen churches put up around porn stores and asking that they move out of the communities? There‘s even religious community groups crusading to have porn stores and strip clubs removed no matter where they’re built. So the fact is, this goes both ways. Respect others space and things like this wouldn’t happen.
The biggest outrage I ever seen was a church that had a school built behind a porn shop, that was there 30-40 years prior to the school being built…
Report Post »mrgary321
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 11:50amIt’s not a game. It is wrong to put it anywhere near religious operations. If the Porn Palace was there first, they have no gripe.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 1:03pmHmm. I have never, never seen a church built near a porn club. Perhaps you can give us some examples where this has happened and the church has pushed for the porn club to close down.
Report Post »Pigpen
Posted on March 24, 2012 at 1:53pmAPPLE BITE: “How many times have we seen churches put up around porn stores and asking that they move out of the communities?”
ANSWER: “zero times”
Now we KNOW that city officials will throw you citizens into jail for violating city codes as silly as what siding you have on your house. BUT this Itzkow gets a PERMIT to build in VIOLATION of a STATE code?
HMMMMMMMM
Now why would a notoriously GESTAPO-like zoning board GRANT a build permit in VIOLATION of a state BUILDING CODE? Could it be CORRUPTION? Could it be COMPROMISED politician? Because we all KNOW that stripclubs aren’t connected to ORGANIZED CRIME in any way. Naw, the FBI and state bureaus only put surveillance cameras in front of such establishments to try and catch underage johns sneeking into the nudie bars…
Think CONSPIRACY and act with IMMEDIACY. Go to your LOCAL town office. Get the town and county budget. Find out more about WHO and WHAT your local city and county officials are. You don’t need to go to Washington DC to catch crooked, immoral, and destructive politicians. BELIEVE ME.
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on March 24, 2012 at 5:47pm“But the owner takes a different view and touts the jobs his establishment will bring to the community.”
Report Post »Paaaaleeeeze. That BS is thrown around all the time. When at a lost for something to say or a good reason for something to occur, always throw the “it will create jobs” BS. People eat it up.
pavepaws
Posted on March 24, 2012 at 5:49pmWait, this is in Illinois. Same rules apply as in Chicago. No rules.
Report Post »Aquinas
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 8:46amThe question that needs to be asked is: Why does a community desire the need for such a place? The preponderance of filth in this country knows no bounds. Moral codes that were once natural, are now absent, and we wonder why a church would build a school adjacent to a strip club. Perhaps, it is due to the fact that their everywhere.
Report Post »Wilma
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 10:00amThe sinners will have to walk past the saints. It might make some of them think twice about what they are doing.
Report Post »Vickie Dhaene
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 11:05amExcellent way to look at this story. I do pray that God looks down on these people and Let them see the Light., and I am not talking the Red Light.
Report Post »dnewton
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:55amHow far away from the Convent/Nuns does the establishment have to be before it is OK? Zoning is not the problem. This probably would not be a problem in Portland, Oregon. It would be great if there was enough sensitivity to have an objection to the nuns living next to a school that was practicing social promotion and other lies.
Report Post »PaxInVeritate
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 11:43amIt was stated in the story. One mile buffer zone.
Report Post »mrgary321
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 11:53amPeople that talk like you often lack the moral guidance that we see with the problems of the world today.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:35amIt’s just too easy to make jokes about this… so I’ll defer with an anecdote.
I can‘t be the only person in the south who’s seen a similar phenomenon, right? Honestly, I drive through some towns and I swear it goes “Liquor store… “gentlemen’s club”… church… repeat.” Sure, a convent isn’t a church necessarily, but this isn’t very unique situation.
I am wondering if the nuns would get into legal trouble if they obstruct the clientele of the club, though.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 1:05pmJust what do you think a Convent is?
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:20am.
Report Post »I’ll settle this. Ya’ll shake hands and become friends, and the Girls will have Strippers for Jesus Fridays. And give their Tips to the Sisters. It’s a Win, Win……..
KevINtampa
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 11:51amI heard the Stripper for Jesus specials will run on Sunday mornings…
Report Post »palerider54
Posted on March 24, 2012 at 6:33amHey Spank, maybe if the meth dealers give 10 per cent of the money their “product” generates it would be okay too. If the pedophiles and rapists would donate, we could all be one big happy family with God.
You just lost all the atta boys you had built up, with one big ol ”Awww SH%$T”
Report Post »vaman
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:06amThe article said the strip joint has to be 1 mile from a place of worship. A convent is not a place of worship. It’s a residence, not a church, but the guy could have found a less contentious location. Do the nuns need a part time job?
Report Post »PaxInVeritate
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 12:30pmMass is said in the convent as well as Liturgy of the Hours throughout the day every day. So yes, worshiping the Lord God does take place in the convent.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 1:16pmIt is not a church in the sense where outside members of the Catholic faith come in for Sunday Mass each week, but a Convent does house nuns and some Convents are schools where the nuns are teachers. There is a place of worship located in the building which is used to perform mass, communion and other Catholic services. So yes, a Convent is a Church as well as the nuns living quarters. Convents are religious institutions and does fall into the one mile rule.
Seems some council members decided to define their own rules on this one and classify the Convent as “not a church”.
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:00amThis case is a good example of people allowing their emotions to rule over their logic. On both sides. No, on all three sides, the government did a terrible thing as well.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:58amWho is in charge of ZONING? Let me guess….
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on March 24, 2012 at 5:57pmMoney talks
Report Post »Joyzee
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:45amThe Good Habits against the Bad Habits!…….watch for the occupiers now!..bottom-up
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:56amClever! : )
Report Post »OldGuy66
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 2:11pmWould be a good rumble. Some of those Good Habits can be pretty tough. I mean with names like Sister Crucifix and Precious Blood, you know they are gonna bring some serious heat.
Report Post »candcantiques
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:43amThis is a simple problem to fix. I have 1,000 skunks that need temporary housing. Problem solved.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 1:23pmIt is funny you mentioned that. Just recently a couple had to rip up their whole house flooring to find that 16 skunks had made their home under the house. I can’t remember what I was watching, but it may have been on HGTV when I saw video.
Report Post »Midwest Blonde
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:40amIt’s Illinois – you can bet your a$$ someone got a payoff to issue the permits. (What else can you expect in such a corrupt state?)
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:39amIt’s kind of sad. Jesus is coming back in Glory this time, that means with defenses and defenders, and people who are still here will say, “But the scriptures say Elias will come first”, and Jesus will say “But he did but you didn’t know him, just like last time, and last time I left my word which was you coming to him through me, and so surely you can not know me.”
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:03amYou all are a sad, sad bunch, and you even had the Liberty to pursue the truth with the creation of the United States, and you chose idolatry over Jesus.
Report Post »RobMac68
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:08amElias = John the Baptist
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:12amYou betcha!
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:38amMaybe the owners of the joint just want to piss off you social cons.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:37amSimple fix for the nuns…Get a video cmera and stand on thier own property and record the customers coming in…Them post them to Youtube. Many men would never go in if they knew they were being watched. But of course not as many as it used to be. Some men have no shame in chasing sex nowadays.
Report Post »I was in a strip club over 35 years ago. That was enough for me. All I saw were sluts…ewwwwwww. Never again for me. I like women, not drug addled skanks.
kickagrandma
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:58am“Drug addled skanks” sounds like you’re talking about congress and women in the wh????
Report Post »quicker
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:04amGood one Grandma,rotflmao..
Report Post »quicker
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:06amDo you think we can convince Sheila Jackson Lee to aply for the job.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:51ambaddoggy I love that idea. camera and then a youtube channel woul get a lot of these men in trouble. I love that the club owner says he is creating jobs…yes according to his stimulus of the community the local drug dealers will be fat on cash when the gals get off work.
Report Post »mrgary321
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 11:57amYour right, many would have no issue with their faces being shown going in. Remember everything is okay nowadays. Gay Marrage, alternative lifestyles being taught to school kids, so what is wrong with porn anyway? Today’s ,media tries to make believers in Christ the freaks; look at how they portray Santorum?
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:37amJESUS always walked into the darkness to bring light…. Here is ministry in spades in HIS name. Gives a whole new meaning to “sistahs” in this race thingy!
Speaking of light to darkness, notice where HE is sending Tebow!
Anyone read The Harbinger? Or your Bibles? Be a good time to be on our knees praying for God’s mercy for HIS children. Praying for our own family members and friends who still don’t get it and remembering that “Greater is HE WHO IS within me than he who is in the world.”
Pray ahead of this summer. Pray now for GOD’s presence and grace to flood our cities now. We have time if we will use it. Anyone changed your own life in the face of evil’s onslaught? Posting the miracles we see and experience might be a GOD idea to encourage one another. Just a thought….
Report Post »I_Occupy_A_Job
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:35am“We’re going to create jobs for waiters and waitresses and bus boys and janitors and maintenance workers and parking lot attendants, you know, the kind of jobs that people need,” said Bob Itzkow, the club’s owner.
Really? Parking lot attendant at a strip club is the kind of job people need?
Report Post »justangry
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:20amAgnostic here, siding with the nuns. Not for legal reasons, but why does the owner feel like being a jerk about it? VERY uncool. Build it somewhere else, a-hole!
Report Post »Herokidstar
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:08amWith the error in notification they followed all the letters of the law (I am assumeing thats what thay did here) and completely bypassed the spirt of it.
Report Post »PaxInVeritate
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 12:41pmIndeed. The way of worldly politics.
Report Post »ex_nihilo
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:06amThis is a great opportunity. Remember when Jesus ate with the tax collectors and prostitutes? The owners, the workers, and the patrons all need the love of God. Some people have to go to a mission field, but God has sent them on right in their backyard.
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:58amThat’s just what I was thinking. This is a magnificent opportunity that God placed before these nuns.
The people building this casino are still jerks, though. But who knows, maybe THEY will come to know God as a result of their obnoxious decision.
Report Post »Guerrino_P
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:34amI remember seeing a porn film once that featured lesbian nuns ‘in action’. It was very well done. God Bless America and our job creators.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 1:28pmWell at least we know who our resident pervert is on this forum.
Report Post »MySacredHonor
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 7:59amI lived in Franklin Park (Less than 1.5 miles from this place) up until 2010, and I know this area… this is the biggest crock of crap i’ve seen yet… this would never have been allowed if there had REALLY been any sort of public hearing on it. some jackass on the city council decided to try and slip this by, and thank heaven someone stood up, do not let the Jerks of CROOK county get away with this…
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:00amThank you for standing up here and posting the truth.
Report Post »GOD bless and protect…
jonhova
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 7:59amThe devil is working overtime…smh.
Report Post »RobMac68
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 7:58amCreating jobs is the last thing on Itxkow’s mind. He is trying to justify the wrong by claiming it will create jobs. Are people that dumb?
Report Post »If this place does open, hopefully the nuns will read the story of the Christians giving $400.00 to the atheist and reach out to those who are wandering the streets in front of their convent.
GIRL
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 7:50amThey’re right to work with other concerned community members to prevent the opening of the club in their community. If the club prevails and opens, however, what a great location they have for ministry. They can begin with watching for patrons and praying for each one, then let prayer and brainstorming lead them into other possibilities for using their love and location to push back the darkness in their community and in the lives of the club patrons.
Report Post »quicker
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:45amAll they have to do is stand out there with cameras and take picture of the people entering the club.This would cause people not go to this club.Club shuts down for lack of bussiness,problem solved.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 7:50amThe nuns should gather in front of the club every time it is open wearing their full habits. They should pray out loud for each person who enters and offer them a Bible. Make the patrons uncomfortable enough that the club loses clientele and the owners may rethink their location.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:31amMom
You are dead bang on. Full habits, praying and calling all known persons by name might have an effect on business. It may also awaken Christ in the patrons.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:33amGreat idea! If they make no money-they will leave.
Report Post »JimL
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 10:22amMother knows best.
Notice to those who have invested in corrupting your neighbor: Sell.
Report Post »PaxInVeritate
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 12:47pmGood idea except for the trespassing on the clubs property.
Report Post »Nemo13
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 7:48amWho allowed the zoning for this? Who gave it the green light? Fire them.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 8:12amdon’t you mean “red light”
Report Post »RobMac68
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 9:46amLol, kay
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