Staten Island Pastor Reverses Decision To Sell Convent To Muslim Group

The pastor of Saint Margaret Mary Parish in Midland Beach signed a contract to sell the convent to the Muslim American Society for $750,000.

When word got out that the group planned to build a mosque and community center on the property, hundreds in the neighborhood protested at a heated community meeting last week.

In a letter to the Archdiocese, the pastor said, "I have concluded that the contemplated sale would not serve the needs of the parish."

Residents who spoke with NY1 say they have mixed opinions on the latest development.

"We're not crazy about the group that's trying to get in here," said one Midland Beach resident. "They have, unfortunately, from what we read about them; they have terrorist ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. They're an off-shoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. For lack of a better term -- they're like a political action party of the Muslim Brotherhood."

"It's definitely a lack of tolerance because people don't understand the religion and they don't understand the culture. They hear so many bad things that they are not even giving them a chance," said another.