Founder of Domino’s Pizza to build first town in America to be run according to strict Catholic principles

The Times Online have an interesting story of a new town being established in Florida. This is the sort of thing that makes America great! I remember as a child being read the story of Tom Monaghan. It inspired me greatly, and to this day, I still remember that evening, at my mother's feet.

For perspective, whether you are catholic or protestant, I would highly recommend you read "A History of the American People" by Paul Johnson. In part one, "A City on a Hill" Johnson chronicles the history of colonial America from 1580 to 1750, including the many theocratic groups that established themselves on the American shores.

Of course, the Times article comes across to me a bit irreverent and with sarcastic overtones. That's to be expected. It's to bad--its a great story on what makes America great--the freedom to practice your faith and to join other like-minded people in doing so. While the strict moral principles faithfully Catholics live by may be "threatening" to some, this sounds to me a like a great idea. I hope it goes well for them.

A FORMER marine who was raised by nuns and made a fortune selling pizza has embarked on a £230m plan to build the first town in America to be run according to strict Catholic principles.

Abortions, pornography and contraceptives will be banned in the new Florida town of Ave Maria, which has begun to take shape on former vegetable farms 90 miles northwest of Miami.

To be clear, no one is going to be forced to live there. That is the blessing of America--there is plenty of land for everyone to live under their own faith.

Tom Monaghan, the founder of the Domino'’s Pizza chain, has stirred protests from civil rights activists by declaring that Ave Maria'’s pharmacies will not be allowed to sell condoms or birth control pills. The town's cable television network will carry no X-rated channels.

The town will be centred around a 100ft tall oratory and the first Catholic university to be built in America for 40 years. The university'’s president, Nicholas J Healy, has said future students should help rebuild the city of God in a country suffering from "“catastrophic cultural collapse".

Monaghan, 68, sold his takeaway chain in 1998 for an estimated $1 billion (£573m). A devout Catholic who has ploughed millions into religious projects --— including radio stations, primary schools and a Catholic law faculty in Michigan -- Monaghan has bought about 5,000 acres previously used by migrant farmers.

The land on the western edge of the Everglades swamp will eventually house up to 30,000 people, with 5,000 students living on the university campus. Florida officials have declared the project a development bonanza for a depressed area, and Governor Jeb Bush attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the new university earlier this month.

Tag: Tom Monaghan