Papal Viewing Party In Cape May Proceeds After Legal Concerns Are Addressed
By David Madden
CAPE MAY, NJ (CBS) -- The Cape May Convention Hall will be one place where people will be able to watch Pope Francis's Mass on the Ben Franklin Parkway next weekend on big screens, but the city of Cape May will have nothing to do with the event, after a Washington based group put up bit of a stink.
Alex Luchenitser, an attorney with the Washington based Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, threatened legal action after receiving a complaint about Cape May's involvement. He says the city's plans ran afoul of the US Constitution, but they came to an accommodation.
"The city agreed to withdraw as a co-sponsor of the event," Luchenitser told KYW Newsradio, "and instead the event is going to be sponsored by a private group of churches."
There is also the issue of distributing some 800 free tickets, according to Cape May city manager Bruce MacLeod.
"Tickets are being dispersed through the churches in town," he said."Tickets are available at the Convention Hall facility."
The tickets are being handed out as a way to ensure crowd control and to comply with the local fire code.
Several privately sponsored viewing events are scheduled down the shore, as towns hope to cash in on people interested in the Papal weekend, but not the crowds that will come with it in Philadelphia.
