Challenge filed against ruling allowing Mormon temple construction in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is once again at the center of a cultural and urban planning battle, this time concerning the construction of a large Mormon temple adjacent to the historic Santa Catalina de Siena church and monastery. The civil organization Basta de Demoler has taken a significant step by filing a constitutional challenge against a recent court decision that effectively greenlit the temple's construction, overturning a previous suspension order.

This legal maneuver by Basta de Demoler targets the very foundation of the ruling, asserting that it completely disregarded the core arguments of the case. The organization, alongside the initial court's decision, contends that the City of Buenos Aires government violated urban planning codes by permitting construction volumes that exceed established limits. Crucially, this was allegedly done without the mandatory public hearing and legislative approval required by the City Code, creating an unlawful exception.

The controversy is amplified by the Catholic Church's public concerns over visible damage, including numerous cracks, appearing in the 1745 Santa Catalina de Siena building. These damages have been linked by the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Monsignor Jorge García Cuerva, to ongoing street renovation works nearby. While the church seeks dialogue and technical analysis to find solutions, the lifting of the construction suspension for the Mormon temple has intensified the debate over heritage preservation versus religious freedom and urban development.

From our perspective in Argentina, this case is emblematic of the complex interplay between historical preservation, urban development, and the rights of different religious communities. The legal and public discourse here often grapples with how to balance modernization with the safeguarding of our rich colonial heritage. The swiftness with which the injunction was lifted, and the subsequent legal challenge, highlight the deep divisions and passionate advocacy surrounding such projects in our city. It raises questions about transparency in urban planning and the true extent of public participation when major construction projects impact national heritage sites.

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The works on Viamonte street are alerting us with these cracks. We have records that they were not there before, we even have photos from 2024. We believe it is necessary to sit down, analyze the situation and have technicians, also from the Archbishopric's side, help us find a solution.