The name Catholic University pretty much gives away its religious orientation to anyone considering applying there. Moreover, Catholic University is not telling its Muslim students that they cannot pray and otherwise observe their own faith on campus. They can pray in their own dorm rooms which are reportedly free of any Catholic symbols, if the public spaces with Catholic imagery bother them.
However, Catholic University is well within its rights if it refuses to take down its own religious symbols in the classrooms or other public spaces within the university campus, or to spend money to construct extra public rooms in order to create a non-denominational space in an avowedly Catholic institution. According to the managing editor of Catholic Portal at the Patheos website, Catholic University is a Pontifical University, created by the Holy See and directly under his authority, which means that it “cannot be true to itself while creating ‘Jesus-free’ spaces.”
If a non-Catholic decides to attend a private Catholic university, it is the non-Catholic student who has to adjust to the Catholic nature of the university, not the other way around. In the case of Muslim students, if they don’t feel comfortable praying on campus, there are three Islamic centers within a couple of miles where they can go.
Even under the D.C. Human Rights Act, there is a carve-out for organizations, including educational organizations, with a religious affiliation:
“Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to bar any religious or political organization, or any organization operated for charitable or educational purposes, which is operated, supervised or controlled by or in connection with a religious or political organization, from limiting employment, or admission to or giving preference to persons of the same religion or political persuasion as is calculated by the organization to promote the religious or political principles for which it is established or maintained.” (Sec. 2-1401.03 (b))
“Notwithstanding any other provision of the laws of the District of Columbia, it shall not be an unlawful discriminatory practice in the District of Columbia for any educational institution that is affiliated with a religious organization or closely associated with the tenets of a religious organization to deny, restrict, abridge, or condition -
(A) The use of any fund, service, facility, or benefit;” (Sec. 2-1402.41 (3)(A))
In this particular case, Muslim students on campus are not the ones complaining. Some have voiced their displeasure with Banzhaf’s action, in which he manufactured a controversy that did not exist with the Catholic University Muslim student community.
Indeed, even the normally litigious Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) appears to be distancing itself from Banzhaf’s lawsuit because it does not want to be tarred with something so absurd. Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR’s communications director, called the crucifix complaint “a non-issue.” He went on to say that “at a Catholic institution, you would assume that there would be Catholic symbols in locations throughout the university.”
Hooper is right for once. Even a broken clock is correct twice a day. But CAIR’s own lawfare strategy of bringing or threatening lawsuits to challenge any perceived instance of Islamophobia is partly to blame. It breeds even more frivolous, publicity-seeking lawsuits, using bogus anti-Muslim discrimination charges to serve in this case a left-wing agenda.
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I’m surprised the ACLU is not in on this. Banzhaf is typical of the type of legal Islamic jihad I’ve commented on before. One of the problems is our nation’s handling of the Constitution. Lefties only use it or make it an issue when it benefits their agenda.
Actually Banzhaf is way out in front on this one. I recognized the name, so I double-checked; he has made his name, if not his career, through lawfare.
He was the point man for the entire second-hand smoke campaign, and also has performed his litiguous magic on the issue of sex-segregated restrooms. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Banzhaf_III
He has, I would argue, taught the Leftist and Muslim communities everything they know about twisting liberal law to their own ends, usually in direct opposition to both popular will and legislative intents.
Frankly, I despise him, and would enjoy nothing more than spitting in his face.
This stunt is utterly beyond the pale. Here in Philly we had a similar situation a few months ago concerning a cheesesteak shop whose owner put up a sign which upset certain types… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geno%27s_Steaks#Engl…
After the papers got a hold of the story, it went nowhere.
It's typical of muslims to say they are being oppressed as they try to oppress someone.
He seems to be trying to determine just how stupid Americans are with his objection to the college doing away with coed dorms, and his objection to pictures and symbols of Christ, when muslims claim he is a muslim prophet when it suits them. His faith and his moon god must be awfully weak if he can't pray in the presence of a picture Christ or the Catholic Pope.
Uh ..Catholic University …..muslim prayer rooms ? …what's next ? remove all crucifixes ?
Hmmmmm, ok …but only after Islamic schools allow christian prayer chapels with crucifixes .
No wait ! just the mention of that would cause riots and possible loss of life and prioperty !
And by who ? Those intolerant muslims who demanbd we be tolerant of their intolerance .
THROW THE CASE OUT OF COURT AS FRIVOLOUS >
If muslim students are finding the crucifixes in a CATHOLIC PRIVATE UNIVERSITY "offensive " , perhaps the very NAME of that school , should be removed and the school renamed , since Catholic= Christian = The Cross . Following their twisted perverted logic , the very name Catholic should "revolt " them ..no ?
Maybe they should try that in a Yeshiva University ?
I’m a Christian and you know, statues of Buddha or mentioning of Muhammad will not affect how I pray. Why is this an issue?
Could it be that the cross is a reminder of someone who died for yet even them?….hmmmm….,just speculating. To be oppressed by your own concience is a whole different animal from being oppressed by man made laws or rules.
That is the huge difference between us (Christians) and them (Muslims). We do not find symbols of their faith offensive as they do ours. What is offensive to the point of confrontation with these 'devil's disciples' is that they use our system of justice and democracy to incrementally establish their caliphate. Over my dead body. Our way of life is worth dying for, or as General Patton would say, "We have to kill more of them than they do of us."
The Turban Torpedo
why are muslims enrolled in a christian university?…..can someone please answer this?
Easy to answer…they are trying to infiltrate in order to then claim oppression. This guy beat them to the point.
Because they recognize that Muslim schools are inferior?
Quick question for my cyberfriends; how many Muslim universities are there in the US?
Since they helped fight the revolution!, I would expect they have a long and glorious history of providing comprehensive education like the Quakers, Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians, Mormons!, etc.
HEY!!! Wait a minute. Do you see that? Amish. The Amish have no universities. They must be terrorists too… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geno%27s_Steaks#Engl…
Expel them! Should have never been accepted into a Catholic school in the first place. Typical, of the muslims, destroy from within. Use the countries laws against it. The court should throw this case out! And others frivilous cases that just cost the taxpayers money and tie up the system.
A leftwinger howls discrimination when the alleged “victims” say there is none. Another manufactured controversy, another barefaced lie from a lefty. When will it end?
It would be fitting to see the Muslims, who apparently enjoy the benefits of Catholic University or they wouldn't be there, file a lawsuit against Mr. Banzhaf for putting them in the middle of a controversy that didn't previously exist.
Eric G. has a point. But we'll never see such actions. It is telling that during all the years and 20,000+ terrorist attacks since 9/11 that we don't hear nary a word against these atrocities from the so called "Moderate Muslims" in America. I certainly don't expect them to speak out against something as mundane as this issue.
If muslims find the symbols of Christians offensive, then they should at least be intelligent enough to realize that the tables can be turned.
That would make all muslim symbols offensive to non muslims and open the door to finally begin the steps to get rid of them. There is a certain irony that muslims did this to themselves. This we could use to our own advantage with a few smart lawyers.
In 2007 Islam and Judaism's holiest holidays overlapped for 10 days. Muslims racked up 397 dead bodies in 94 terrorist attacks across 10 countries during this time…While the Jews worked on their 159th Nobel Prize. That is some accomplishment for Islam's "Religion of Peace".
why are muslims enrolled in a christian university?…..can someone please answer this? ….. For the same reason they are in all the West, to take over, "kill steal and destroy," sound familiar?
Not so fast. To their credit they have not complained about their surroundings as well they shouldn't since they chose that particular university to further their education. This is the work of a lone 'devil's disciple' among many trying to destroy our 'one nation under God' concept.
The Turban Torpedo
If the Muslim students have no complaints,why is this idiot doing this? I hope the court does the right thing and throw this suit out.
Hello America,
The good news is that in the end the Holy Trinity wins. Satan's disciples are doing nothing more than harrassing to wear their opponents down. What are Muslim's doing at a Catholic university anyway? It is to their credit though that they did not file a complaint. This is the work of a 'devil's disciple', working in concert with godless lefties in this country to remove God from society. As long as there are dedicated followers of Christ around to fight the good fight until we leave for a better place, we will fight the good fight in the name of a Judaic/Christian nation. Allah AKA Satan be damned.
The Turban Torpedo
Why do they need a special prayer room ? Muslims in Europe are quite happy to carry out their payer duties to Muhammad's mythical Allah in the streets.
This is like vegetarians suing McDonalds! What chutzpah the muslims have
I find John Banzhaf as a "bites pica lawsuits" who lives from accusing others to get a shyster shyster sucking negligible advantage. A social parasite who try to irritate to build confrontational relations. It would be good to get rid of. It be nice to make a case against to make him pay for his responsibilities. Justice must be served and this guy is an obsessive psychopath. Get out!!!…
"A medieval French representation of Baphomet, the "devil" or foreign god the Templars were accused of worshiping. His name derives from medieval Christian forms of the name Mohammed, which became Mafomat in Spanish, Bafpomet in Provencal. Sculptur4e at Saint-Merri church, Paris) Secret Societies edited by Norman MacKenzie
Why doesn't someone file a complaint against the Islamic mosques for not letting the men and women pray together?
American institutions of all stripes are being targeted by Islamic takeover but targeting Catholic university is to complemented on their boldness. Muslims are doing the "long march" through the institutions like the commies propogandized. They are taking the trotskyist/communist playbook and actually using it, using it very quickly. America needs to wake up to the long term peril inside its own gates that seeks to destroy from the inside out all without firing a shot. Political correctness will kill the God honoring freedoms this country was birthed into. If we dont do anything, this cancer will kill us.
ALL religion except Islam has problem. I am a hindu and this though would have never come up in my mind. NON MUSLIM WAKE UP BEFORE IT IS TOOOOOOO LATE.
READ THE HISTORY OF INDIA HOW THE COUNTRY WAS RUINED BY SHAKING HANDS WITH THESE COOKS MUSLIMS