Empire State Building owners still refusing to light up for Mother Teresa

New York, June 9 (ANI): Owners of the Empire State Building in New York continue to decline to illuminate the building in honour of India's Mother Teresa, though they have no qualms about ding it for the likes of singer Mariah Carey, dog shows, cancer charities - and even the 60th anniversary of communist China. They're bigots! They have an animus against Catholics!" The Telegraph quoted Catholic League President Bill Donohue, as saying.

He said his lay advocacy group had put in a request for an illumination on August 26 to mark the centennial of Mother Teresa's birth, which was denied in an unsigned, faxed letter.

Donohue claimed that Empire State Building officials were "stonewalling" not only the Catholic League, but also the media and members of New York's City Council.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, another prominent New York Catholic, said that she had spoken to the Empire State Building's owner Anthony Malkin.

Although the real estate mogul was "very professional" and said he "would reflect on the points I made," he refused the request, she said.

The building's owners have not commented to the media. (ANI)