This is great - I think I need to pray for Ava Maria and one of the world's largest and saddest symbols:

In the name of Allah,
the beneficent, the merciful.
Praise be to the Lord of the
universe who has created us and
made us into tribes and nations
that we may know each other, not that
we may despise each other.
If the enemy incline towards peace, do
thou also incline towards peace, and
trust God, for the Lord is the one that
heareth and knoweth all things.
And the servants of God,
most gracious are those who walk on
the Earth in humility, and when we the Earth in humility, and when we
address them, we say "PEACE".

The crucifix is also considered by some to be one of the most effective means of averting or opposing demons, as stated by many exorcists, including the famous exorcist of the Vatican, Father Gabriele Amorth. In folklore it is considered to ward off vampires, incubi, succubi, and other evils.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifix

This is but one of the major conflicts I have with my Catholic upbringing. How can any decent and caring person reconcile the church's spending 29.65 million dollars for a building? Can you imagine the countless number of poor, hungry and homeless people that amount of money could help? I can only think Our Lord would have preferred a very modest building, something that might have been built by a carpenter from Galilee. This is shameful.

4 hours since the article is posted online, and 4 negative posts. Get a life, you guys. I realize that it is much more interesting to debate an issue or topic than just throw down in favor of the article or topic. But, really, what is the point of whining so much about a place you say is decadent, sad, and folkloric. A place you won't visit except as a voyeur looking for something to complain about or poke fun at.

bicoastal,

I was wondering: is that your own prayrer or one taken from a religious text? There is no credit given. In that prayer, you state that the Lord God created us that we will not despise each other and we seek to know each other. Then you quote a very "credible" source, wikipedia, to point out a very narrow, extremely rare use for the Crucifix; and tag on a comment about folklore which does not pertain to religion or Catholicism. I fail to see either an attempt to understand the faith or explain the faith.

irish, Christ said that the poor would always be with us. Something the liberals of this country seem never to understand.

Tookie, perhaps you should save your giant condom for the largest building in the world being constructed in Dubai. It is not the Catholics of the world pledging jihad on the West.

Hey ecoterror...One Billion Catholics are coming to get you right now and show you how you it is done.

One a serious note, if you can't be respectful...shut up.

Hey ecoterror, you're a jerk.

Has anyone other than Bill Clinton figured out where Mary Magdalena fits into the scheme of things?

LOL..reading these comments was enlightening.

Some were in very poor taste, but darkly humorous. The bottom line here is whose crucifix is bigger?

I'm just surprised that a reader was awarded the poster name of GOD. More surprised that an individual would even ask for that screen name.

the liberal losers out in force.They will never stand for anything except for misery of their worthless lives.

vote for obama and you will have a people like eco terror running the nation.

I only support the crucifix if it makes my property value go up. If it doesn't then I think the focus should be on getting the gas station completed.

I am sure this is the first thing Jesus wants to see when he returns is a big cross...Are you going to ask him to drag it through town for you?
Gaudy wealth displayed is not what Jesus taught or respected was it?

Hey smoke, don't get me started on baseball salaries. Consider this...if A-Rod fails at his profession seven out of every ten tries (.333 batting average) he goes to the hall of fame. If a surgeon killed seven of every ten patients or an airline pilot crashed on seven out of every ten landing attempts do you think they'd be headed to their hall of fame? It's game for cryin' out loud and they pay these "stars" so much money a dad can't afford to take his ten-year-old to see a game!

Back on point, “We have a lot of things to go,” Monaghan said. “We’ve just got (the church) so we can function. It’s going to take years and a lot of money. Anything we do, we’ve got to get a donor for.” Sounds like raiding the collection box to me. If, indeed, your whitewash about this being solely for Monaghan has any merit the silence from the church is deafening.

A sentiment like that is bound to soothe a hungry child before bed tonight, if she has a bed.

I'm not very good at math, but 3 for 10 is not a 333 BA.

When are they putting in the roller-coaster and flume-rides?

I have nothing against people sending money on what-ever they want but I have to question that much on art when it could go a long why to improving the lives of their neighbors to the north.

Matthew 25:31-45

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

So ends the reading of GODs word.

Anyway someone has already done this and theirs will still be bigger:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_o...

This would not be the "world's largest crucifix" and in all likelihood not even the largest in Florida. The Mission of Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine is home to the Great Cross which is over 200 feet tall!

http://www.missionandshrine.org/great...

Meaning no disrespect whatsoever, I have often wondered if the method of Jesus's execution was by hanging, then would the symbol and reverence of his death be a gallows or a hangmans noose? I can only imagine a 65 foot gallows at Ave maria costing several million dollars. Better to use that money to feed and clothe the needy. I'm sure that Jesus would much better appreciate a humane and generous jesture as that more than a huge exebition of the instrument of his death.

I mean this with the utmost respect, but doesn't it seem a 65-foot crucifix is a bit superficial?

Is it really necessary to prove your devotion to the heavens and to God?

Not my money to waste but it seems that large amount of money could be better spent doing a greater good elsewhere.

While I am not a Catholic, I can't quite fathom the level of hate by secular humanists, such as "ecoterror". It's maybe as if eco thinks of him / herself as God, and is jealous if others don't share that view? I agree with others who don't view Catholics as enemies of the state or a threat to the everyday existence of most of us. If we are talking about recent decades, which we might as well, they have done a lot of good things for a lot of people. Eco, what good things have you done?

Ecoterror - I think that was the funniest post I've ever read on here... kudos! I like the way you think.

Wasn't Mary an unwed, teenage mother???

Xtianity - - the ultimate lie. 2,000 years has been long enough. This lie has been responsible for more death and suffering than all natural disasters, disease and wars combined.

CRUSH THE CRUMBLING CROSS, FOR MIGHT IS RIGHT!

We had a ship to shore radio antenna that turned out to be a terrible lightning rod in a storm even though it was professionally installed and grounded.
Maybe this is something to think about here.

Release Barabbas! Barabbas, not this man. Let His blood be upon us and upon our children and upon our children's children. If He were not a criminal, we would not have brought Him here.

One hair from the head of one Immokalee migrant’s child is worth more than all of Mr. Monaghan's money, more than all of the ideas of all the Comments' contributors. Ask the residents (during the season) of Immokalee how high they'd like to have the cross.

--A dark-skinned Irishman.

Im sorry, but i find this highly ridiculous..

I agree with jadip811, why doesnt the church put that money to good use and do what it preaches.. e.g. helping the needy (?) Thats beyond me.

Vote for people like Waldini202 and we'll be burning witches at Ave Maria.

Religeon, its like herpes, keep it to yourself!

Ironage states, "Vote for people like Waldini202 and we'll be burning witches at Ave Maria." It's a good thing laws against witchcraft were repealed in 1951...whew! I agree, religion should be a personal thing and never mixed with politics or government. Blessed Be.

I guess size does matter. I'm sure your false deity would be proud.

Will you be able to see theoutline of the worlds biggest 'winkie' under CheeZ-US diaper?

A crucifix is a hideous thing to look at. Why do Catholics want to look at an image of someone nailed to a cross who is suffering terrible agony? I think a crucifix is barbaric. The Catholic Church hasn't come out of medieval times. A crucifix is a symbol of depravity and cruelty. Why doesn't the church spend their money on something that is more aesthetically pleasing? The church is grounded in ancient rituals that are not Christian.

irishmist...what he puts in em' is way less than anybody...mainly sugar,cheap flour and grease...hence all the greedy profit...

the concept of blood sacrifice of a son, daughter, or animal is morally reprehensible and rationally absurd...the cross is a symbol of humanity's mental illness...

the church is built on lies and myths, but they've sold well to the ignorant and credulous..

To build a 65' crucifix and a $24 million chuch I find as a christian (non catholic)offensive. I think "what would Christ have done?" - show some humility instead of a reflection of the human ego. I have been to Ave Maria twice and seen the good and the bad. I had hoped to only see the good but Ave Maria has become an overdone and much inflated ego trip.I am truly dissapointed.

Respectfully submitted.

K. Gotterup

The crucifix tells the WHOLE story of Christ. He (the Creator) subjected himself to the human condition, live a sinless life, was (and still is) an innocent example of how we can serve each other. To say the crucifix is old world and not necessary is to say you can celebrate Easter without the Passion. The Catholic Church's desire to remind and teach us about the suffering He endured for man's sake--as illustrated by the crucifix--shows the Catholic Church's willingness to submit to the authority of Christ and the Church that He established.

Some of these comments are borderline offensive and some are downright offensive. To me, the shallowness of such comments show authors with ignorance and cowardice of the truth.

I would like to remind the poster that calls himself "GOD", that there were almost as many Christians killed by the leader of a godless state, nazism, as there were Jews. This is not to lesson the loss of Jews. But, there were many more true Christians--then and now--stepping up to give their lives and treasures for the sake of the Jews.

But for the US of A--a country founded on Judeo-Christian values--there would be no Israel today.

Though one man who called himself a Christian led the mass slaughter of Jews in Europe; it was THIS Christian country and the many Christians in Europe that not only stopped the holocaust, but also helped to reestablished the State of Israel.

re posts #12,13,37 by the blasphemer...he has already been outed on another forum by posting the movie trailer of Cameron's movie that flopped as proof that the burial grounds had been found ...too lamentable to even be angry and too ridiculous to even laugh

re post #37...very offensive from an offensive person...posting lies as fact without source...just despicable

re post #34...same old ...same old ...from a demented old man

as for the rest of the incorrect negative posts...read the news report correctly....IT IS NOT THE CHURCH DOING THE BUILDING...IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL......who has contributed greatly to the poor on his own

it always amazes me how non believers get so hung up on a God they say does not exist

In post #39 KayJay says "To say the crucifix is old world and not necessary is to say you can celebrate Easter without the Passion." In the first place Easter is and always has been a celebration of Pagan origin which was appropriated by the Church of Rome. Even the name itself was dirived from the pagan goddess of springtime, Eastre or Eostre. If it is of Christian origin then why is it celebrated with rabbits and eggs which have absolutely nothing to do with Christ but are ancient pagan symbols of fertility and rebirth? The Church incoroprated these traditions into something that would work to assimilate pagans into the "New" religion of Christianity. The celebration of Ostara ( Easter ) is still celebrated by pagans worldwide honoring the vernal equinox, Springtime. So in regard to your statement,yes, by all means you can indeed celebrate Easter ( Ostara ) without the Passion. Be well and be blessed....:)

Easter, Christmas, and Halloween and most religious holidays are based on paganism. The crucifix itself is pagan in origin. The Catholic Church was founded on a mixture of Christianity and paganism. According to historical records, Jesus was crucified on an upright stake or a tree and not a cross. Church doctrine is full of rituals and relics. There is more paganism in the Church than there is Christianity.

post #42 is correct.....almost...as it was not "appropriated by the Church of Rome" but derived from the Frankish church celebration of the Resurrection
as pagan rites are not widely celebrated today Easter has become the word for the Resurrection of Christ worldwide
following from the site: "all about history"

You are here: History >> Read More About Word Origin! >> Origin of the Word Easter
What is the origin of the word Easter?

Just as there are many traditions surrounding the celebration of Easter, there are many stories and legends surrounding the origin of the word Easter. To some, it is the history and celebration of spring; for others it is a day to remember deliverance; for many it is the celebration of new life in Christ. Let's look at a few explanations:

Eostre - a pagan Anglo-Saxon Goddess
This mythical figure is said to have been the goddess of the sunrise and the spring. She is the Teutonic goddess of the dawn. The direction of the sunrise, East, is named for her. In Norse mythology, the name is spelled Eostare. Another considered the Norse/Saxon goddess of spring is Ostara. Eastre is believed to be an ancient word for spring.
Pesach - the Passover
While pagans celebrated the rites of spring, the Jews celebrated Passover, the anniversary of the day God delivered them out of Egyptian bondage. God had demanded the firstborn male from every household, but had promised to pass over any house with the blood of a perfect lamb smeared on its doorpost. He then commanded the Jews to remember their deliverance through the ceremony of the Passover. Pesach is the Hebrew word for Passover. Its position in the Jewish calendar coincidentally corresponds to the beginning of Spring.

Easter: An Early Celebration of Christ's Resurrection
Another idea involves the history of the Frankish church (Germans who settled in Rome during the fifth century). Their the celebration of Christ's resurrection included the word alba, which means white (the color of the robes worn during the resurrection festival). Alba also meant sunrise. So when the name of the festival was translated into German, the sunrise meaning, ostern, was selected, likely in error. One theory is that Ostern is the origin of the word Easter.

as usual the blasphemer in post #46 publishes words without substance and while the bio info is correct he omits this Jones character converted to Judaism...nothing wrong with that....and now denounces Christ and the Christian religion... he may ride on the coattails of Camerons failed movie....which has been proven false in all quarters....but nothing in his bio claims this...........
Jones claim to be the focus of Indiana Jones has also been debunked and in research and theology circles he is not taken seriously

again the blasphemer uses a movie trailer as a source of truth...and a failed movie at that...really pathetic

"He is a 68 year old codger, a bit cocky, slick as a serpent, and full of Talmudic venom against Jesus Messiah and Christianity. Vendyl is a modern Gentile Bene-Noahide antichrist, who wishes nothing more than that Christianity be removed from the earth to make way for revived Phariseeism to become the world religion of a new Messianic hope. He wants to help bring this rapidly to fulfillment by finding the lost Ark and the ashes of the red heifer."

Tookie,

First you should buy the World's Largest Dictionary so you can learn to spell, then you can work on the other thing.

Much blasphemy going on here...
I agree a mission to raise $ to build a huge cross is RIDICULOUS. How many of our needy children could use that $ ?
Perhaps those who make this decision should reconsider what is really important here...helping those in need .
Creating a useless mass of expensive construction ? To inspire and move people a more creative approach would be better.
Using idols as decoration is creepy and is idol worship.

Why shouldn't they have the “largest crucifix in the world?” They already have the world's largest (naughty word)?

blasphemy,infidels,godlessness,questioning authority,freedom to think not believe blindly,rejection of blood sacrifice religions,rejection of theocracy,....

all healthy robust signs on the road to honesty, sanity, rationality, and ethics based on intelligence, not tales of the clerical frauds and the promotion of their tax free racket...

perhaps the blasphemer should get his facts straight but he never lets the facts interfere with his postings........the Romans did not crucify Jesus...it was the Jewish Rabbis and teachers who brought false witness to Christ and thereby brought about His crucifixtion....but then again this is a fact so it does not fall within the blasphemers parameters
you do a disservice to the Jews of the world with your inane rhetoric

blasphemer....just go away..you are a disgrace to your Jewish faith and an insult to the rest of us

Religion: the opiate of the masses. Just reading these posts make you realize how true that saying is.

I have no imput for nor against this, except LIGHTENING ROD!!!!!

jesus concern for the poor and the put apon is debased by the money lenders dream called ave maria -what happened to the state masterplan and the tall flag was criticized at perkins why dont they use the money for low income housing

Commandment #4
You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Oh the waste of money that could be put to good use.