Thousands protest Empire State Building's snub of Mother Teresa

New York, May 14 (ANI): The Catholic League has launched a nation-wide petition after Empire State Building authorities denied a request to commemorate Mother Teresa's 100th birthday.

Fox News reported that Bill Donohue, president of the New York-based Catholic civil rights organization, submitted an application to the Empire State Building Lighting Partners in February to have the skyscraper feature blue and white lights -- the colors of Mother Teresa's congregation-on August 26 to commemorate her centennial.

The request was denied without explanation last week, and more than 6,000 people have signed a protest petition in just one day, Donohue told Fox News.

"I'd like to find out what's driving this, but I'm confident it's just a matter of time before we win on this thing," he added.

Donohue noted that the iconic building in midtown Manhattan changed its colors to red and yellow last year to honor the 60th anniversary of China's Communist Revolution.

Donohue called on Anthony Malkin, owner of the Empire State Building, to reverse the decision.

"Mother Teresa received 124 awards, including Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Medal of Freedom. She built hundreds of orphanages, hospitals, hospices, health clinics, homeless shelters, youth shelters and soup kitchens all over the world ... Not surprisingly, she was voted the most admired woman in the world three years in a row in the mid-1990s. But she is not good enough to be honored by the Empire State Building," Donohue said in a statement.

A spokeswoman for the building's public relations firm declined comment Thursday when reached by Fox News. (ANI)