Ave Maria, FL Doesn't Impress the Perky Katie

Former Domino's pizza magnate Thomas Monaghan is developing a new town in Florida which is drawing some critical reviews from the perky Katie Couric:

NBC "Today Show" hostess Katie Couric didn't sound too pleased Friday morning with plans to develop a community that openly espouses traditional values, let alone the fact that it will have a Catholic University at its center.

Plans for Ave Maria, Florida have already drawn praise from Gov. Jeb Bush, who told NBC: "I think it'll be a model for sustainable living not just for Florida, but for the country."

But plaudits from the Florida Republican, who NBC pointedly reminded, is Catholic himself, didn't impress the folks at "Today."

Introducing the segment, reporter Michelle Kosinski lamented that Ave Maria would be a town "without condoms or birth control pills, no porn shops or strip joints, or premarital sex." (and the downside?? - HC)

But it was Couric herself who seemed most offended, chastising her guests, Domino's Pizza mogul Thomas Monaghan and developer Paul Marinelli, for building a community that "people will see . . . as eschewing diversity and promoting intolerance." (diversity and intolerance - the holy grail of the left - HC)

"Does [Ave Maria] follow the tenets pretty much, Mr. Marinelli, of the Catholic church?" Couric worried. "In other words, pharmacies in this community can't sell contraception, correct?"

Not true, the developer responded - explaining that the sale contraceptive materials will be discouraged but not banned.

"You would welcome Jewish residents?" Couric queried, sounding like she expected to get a no for an answer.

"Definitely," Marinelli explained. "We anticipate that there would be synagogues as well as [a] Baptist church."

"What about gay couples?" Couric pressed, appearing confident she'd finally ferreted out the bigoted streak in the traditional values town.
Foiled again.

"We will not discriminate against anyone," Marinelli explained. "You know, we respect the Constitution, we're not going to violate the US Constitution or the Florida Constitution."

Don't forget, Katie, this is a free country. No one has to live there. People will not be rounded up and herded to Ave Maria to live a life of chastity and purity against their will. The folks who move there will do so because that's the kind of community in which they want to live, and why should that be automatically wrong?

There are lots of cities across this country where people who wish a hedonistic lifestyle can indulge themselves to their heart's content. If these people in Florida want to do things differently, Katie, leave them alone and go bother someone else.