Oct 26, 2011
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The Washington, D.C. Office of Human Rights confirmed that it is investigating allegations that Catholic University violated the human rights of Muslim students by not allowing them to form a Muslim student group and by not providing them rooms without Christian symbols for their daily prayers.
The investigation alleges that Muslim students “must perform their prayers surrounded by symbols of Catholicism – e.g., a wooden crucifix, paintings of Jesus, pictures of priests and theologians which many Muslim students find inappropriate.”
A spokesperson for the Office of Human Rights told Fox News they had received a 60-page complaint against the private university. The investigation, they said, could take as long a six months.
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The complaint was filed by John Banzhaf, an attorney and professor at George Washington University Law School. Banzhaf has been involved in previous litigation against the school involving the same-sex residence halls. He also alleged in his complaint involving Muslim students that women at the university were being discriminated against. You can read more on those allegations by clicking here.
Banzhaf said some Muslim students were particularly offended because they had to meditate in the school’s chapels “and at the cathedral that looms over the entire campus – the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.”
“It shouldn’t be too difficult somewhere on the campus for the university to set aside a small room where Muslims can pray without having to stare up and be looked down upon by a cross of Jesus,” he told Fox News.
A spokesman for Catholic University released a statement to Fox News indicating they had not seen any legal filings — but would respond once they do.
“Our faithfulness to our Catholic tradition has also made us a welcome home to students of other religions,” said Victor Nakas, associate vice president for public affairs. “No students have registered complaints about the exercise of their religions on our campus.”
In a 2010 interview with National Public Radio, university president John Garvey acknowledged that they don’t set aside prayer rooms for Muslim students.
“We make classrooms available, or our chapels are places where they can pray,” he told NPR. “We don’t offer Halal meat, although there are always meals that conform to Halal regulations, that allow students to do what they want.”
Banzhaf said that it is technically not illegal for Catholic University to refuse to provide rooms devoid of religious icons.
“It may not be illegal, but it suggests they are acting improperly and probably with malice,” he said. “They do have to pray five times a day, they have to look around for empty classrooms and to be sitting there trying to do Muslim prayers with a big cross looking down or a picture of Jesus or a picture of the Pope is not very conductive to their religion.”
As for the creation of a Muslim student group, Banzhaf said the university has an association of Jewish students – so why not a Muslim group?
“I think they are entitled as a matter of law to be able to form a Muslim student association and to have the same privileges as associations,” he said. “I think that most of them would much prefer to have a place to pray – that they are not surrounded by various Catholic symbols – a place that is more conductive to their religious beliefs than being surrounded by pictures of Popes.”
Garvey, in his 2010 interview with NPR, addressed that issue.
“It’s just not something that we view as an activity that we want to sponsor because we’re a Catholic institution rather than Muslim,” he said.
Patrick Reilly, the president of the Cardinal Newman Society, an organization that promotes Catholic identity among Catholic schools, seemed stunned by the complaint.
“I don’t know what the attorney wants them to do – if he wants them to actually move the Basilica or if the Muslim students can find someplace where they don’t have to look at it,” he told Fox News.
Catholic University, he said, is a Catholic institution.
“One wouldn’t expect a Jewish institution to be responsible for providing liturgical opportunities for other faiths and I wouldn’t expect a Catholic institution to do that,” he said.
“This attorney is really turning civil rights on its head,” he said. “He’s using the law for his own discrimination against the Catholic institution and essentially saying Catholic University cannot operate according to Catholic principles.”
Read coverage from Catholic University’s student newspaper by clicking here.
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lol what are muslims doing in the catholic school!
lol what are muslims doing in the catholic school!
Is Catholic University a publically-funded school? No, it's a private university, complete with its own private property. The Government has no right to tell people on private property what they are allowed to put up on their walls. Apparently, with the lefties in charge, the First Ammendment is something only the lefties are allowed to enjoy. What a surprise.
Is Catholic University a publically-funded school? No, it's a private university, complete with its own private property. The Government has no right to tell people on private property what they are allowed to put up on their walls. Apparently, with the lefties in charge, the First Ammendment is something only the lefties are allowed to enjoy. What a surprise.
They CHOSE to attend a CATHOLIC university knowing full well that it is Catholic. If they have a problem with Catholicism WHY ARE THEY THERE? It's not like it's the ONLY university available to them. Would they provide Christian religious symbols and a prayer room for me at THEIR universities? PLEEEEASE!
This one is just crazy….
That attorney is nuts! It IS a Catholic school. I hope the Catholic University standnits ground. Enough is enough with all this equal rights nonsense.
Thanks for sharing this, Cristina. Unbelievable!
Thanks for sharing this, Cristina. Unbelievable!
please do not attend a Catholic school if you find it offends your personal beliefs!
please do not attend a Catholic school if you find it offends your personal beliefs!
It would be nice if they adjudicated this against the school's favor BEFORE the election:) There goes the Catholic vote, Comrade O…hot of the heels of the Jewish vote. Actually, much of it is gone already……just wait & see:):):)…..whadda' ya' got left Ace? 97% of the black vote? The indentured, disillusioned, and unemployed "student" vote? Oh, almost forgot the unions and govt employees. ROFL………………………
I say: Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore COME OUT FROM AMONG them, and BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN THING; and I will receive you,
Indeed if Muslims find a Cross at a Private Catholic University to be an issue they should not go to a Catholic University! They should go to a Muslim University. They knew before enrolling it was Catholic and had crosses. It is not like they were put there to piss them off. They STAY. Nuff Said.
Indeed if Muslims find a Cross at a Private Catholic University to be an issue they should not go to a Catholic University! They should go to a Muslim University. They knew before enrolling it was Catholic and had crosses. It is not like they were put there to piss them off. They STAY. Nuff Said.
What about our right to have the cross? HELLO
What about our right to have the cross? HELLO
Apparently, It's part of their 10 year plan to take away our freedom of speech by being overly sensitive to any & all insults to their prophet, "what's his name."
Like the Sarg said in STRIPES, "Lighten-up Francis."
I think alkay-duh took his speech to the rest of the guys in the barracks and used it as their mantra. Hmmm
Apparently, It's part of their 10 year plan to take away our freedom of speech by being overly sensitive to any & all insults to their prophet, "what's his name."
Like the Sarg said in STRIPES, "Lighten-up Francis."
I think alkay-duh took his speech to the rest of the guys in the barracks and used it as their mantra. Hmmm
In this instance the Muslim's are attempting to infringe on the rights of the Private Catholic College to decide what their students can and cannot do.Kick'em out if they complain, with no refund of tuition.The entire purpose there as students there is not to receive an education but bring lawsuits to force the Catholic school to submit to Islam…not going to happen.
Holy shit folks… its a RELIGIOUS university. If you do not like it I suggest you choose a different institution. Maybe one that has no religious anchors. Like a public university?
Would be nice for once that people would understand the separation of church and state. If you don't look it up before using it to keep God out of schools, government buildings etc. Go to a muslim country, say Detroit, and hang a christian symbol in their mosque. That is if you want to die.
Muslims seem to be the only "religious" group of people who demand, demand, demand.. and then it is never enough… but this is a PRIVATE university and its title should maybe give a prospective student a clue. After all, I hate "public" nudity but if I was idiot enough to go to a topless bar, then I can't really complain about what I see! ANY accommodation to their so-called religious demands should be refused. Acnowledging them advances the caUse of Islam and would be yet another example of Creeping Sharia. Britain, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Sweden.. they have all kowtowed to these sort of demands and look at those "dhimmified" countries now.. frightened to tackle the monster that is consuming them!
I have to assume this is some kind of joke by the muslims. They agree to go to a school that isn't hiding their religious beliefs and then they complain about not having their 'space' on campus! hahahaha When will we stop being bullied?
If a University or school has been set up to be run by Catholics or any other religion for that matter, then whoever is not of the faith or religion should not attend , plain and simple. People are asking for too much freedom to express their religion. It's a Catholic school, if you are not Catholic, consider not joining and save yourself the frustration and others. Look for a Hindu or Muslim institution which best fits your needs in academics and freedom to practice your religion.
If a University or school has been set up to be run by Catholics or any other religion for that matter, then whoever is not of the faith or religion should not attend , plain and simple. People are asking for too much freedom to express their religion. It's a Catholic school, if you are not Catholic, consider not joining and save yourself the frustration and others. Look for a Hindu or Muslim institution which best fits your needs in academics and freedom to practice your religion.
I am hindu. if I am going to a catholic university, I accept their catholic god is also one of my god and pray my god in front of catholic symbol or catholic God. Does God really care where you pray and how you pray. Wake up folks. This is really a total disrespect to God, no matter what religion you belong. God is universal.
I am hindu. if I am going to a catholic university, I accept their catholic god is also one of my god and pray my god in front of catholic symbol or catholic God. Does God really care where you pray and how you pray. Wake up folks. This is really a total disrespect to God, no matter what religion you belong. God is universal.
Who cares Sir, Mame? mooslunhoods? that are killing people around the world? They don't care about you! Who are killing Christians in the countries just liberated! I will not bow before bow! When I can build a Pentecostal church beside mecca, and have mooslunhoods coming to the alter and accepting Jesus as their saviour!
Yes then I will care what they think about my respect for Jesus, and sometimes do you need to see that cross when the devil is on you and boom. It wasn't nothing that Jesus couldn't fix! Me, I have done this and I have poor speaking manner's, when they tell Americans what we have to do, to appease these that hate me for being a infidel! Americans owe them nothing other then what they ask for. muslunhoods in a Catholic School, should be grateful and if it doesn't fit them so they go? red flag, red flag, red flag…..
I feel bad for my kids and my grand kids. I hope I don't live long enough to see our country as screwed up as the middle east.Let these liberal democrats and the ACLU continue to run this country and it won't be long. Drop out of Catholic University if you are offended by crosses.
Go back to Muslimland. I'm tired of all this giving in. They are not being asked to convert. It's time that the Catholic & Protestant world come out of the closet and stand up for their basic Christian beliefs. We tolerate in this land, if we were in a Muslim country, the same courtesy would not be extended to us.
Did anyone pay attention to the word 'PRIVATE' when describing the school?
Go to a public, non-religious University and/or pray at home. Organize a group to pray in a students home. Our first churches were started in homes.A rose is a rose, is a rose. A Catholic University is….The Jewish students aren't complaining.
If its a catholic university then anyone attending should expect to see christian symbols and images. Whats wrong with people?! If they have a problem they should peobebly go to a non relgious based school. Problem solved
Amen, Aubry
Amen Christy—suggest that they close their eyes 5 times a day to pray to their god—kinda reminds me of when Obama spoke at Notre Dame (i think or was it Catholic University?)) and he required them to remove the crucifix in the background–and unfortunately–they did it!
Who gives a good crap??
Where have I been? I was unaware that there were NO secular universities in the United States anymore! Nor was I aware that students of other faiths were routinely being forced to attend Catholic universities and have their eyes burned daily with crosses and pictures of the Pope. Stories like this infuriate me. I just noticed that this story is from almost a year ago, so I hope to (gasp!) God that this lawsuit fizzled and died like it should. So what, you have to find someplace to pray 5 times a day. Not everything in life is going to be handed to you. Figure it out yourself and don't b–ch about not being catered to. The fact that some lawyer even took this on is ridiculous.
This is just a guess but Given that Human Rights has been in the news lately people are digging up old stories and hitting share.
Try to find this story on any other network than Fox News, for the obvious bias that accompanies almost every story from this network is akin to "yellow journalism."( <—-Look up the meaning )
Actually a very brief search yielded articles on the subject in the American Bar Association Journal as well as the Washington and Huffington Posts which unless I'm mistaken are both considered relatively liberal news sites. Call it whatever color you want, call it a conservative vs liberal thing, elephant vs donkey, red vs blue… I would contend that it's simply a common sense thing. Though maybe that's just my yellow opinion
Muslims can go to hell!
This is a christian nation and that is a christian college end of story. Muslims get out. Have Americans
had eneough yet?
This is a christian nation and that is a christian college end of story. Muslims get out. Have Americans
had eneough yet?
This is a christian nation and that is a christian college end of story. Muslims get out. Have Americans
had eneough yet?
Muslims lack of tolerance for other religions stems from fear of their own.
The door opens both ways. If Mr. or Miss. Muzzy doesn't like the college because of its symbols the Muzzys can go to another college. Now if a Catholic were to attend a Muzzy College would the Muzzy college get rid of or cover up their Muzzy symbols or ask the Catholic to go else where.
The Washington, D.C. Office of Human Rights confirmed that it is investigating allegations that Catholic University violated the human rights of Muslim students by not allowing them to form a Muslim student group and by not providing them rooms without Christian symbols for their daily prayers.
———
I'm sure Jesus may agree with it, however he didn't persuade these Muslims to attend a Catholic University where of all things, Catholic symbols are displayed as dictated by their religion. Washington D.C. Human Rights people are your very happy Liberal types who delight in letting others, especially any Christian centric body know that being noninclusive is not the USA way according to 'them'. If these Muslimz want to attend a Yeshiva is the Rabbi and the board of directors supposed to allow them their prayer rugs as well as their call to prayer where twice a day a loud speaker blares and these people get down ass to face on their rugs and ask their Alla for whatever. The Gov. has no business dictating a private body or institution policy. No one ethnic group has any business telling another how manage its criteria. If these Muzlimz knew going in it was a Catholic Inst. it behooves them to fall in line with the Catholic Inst. bylaws. Didn't they get the memo going in? It a CATHOLIC School.
I'm sure Jesus may agree with it, however he didn't persuade these Muslims to attend a Catholic University where of all things, Catholic symbols are displayed as dictated by their religion. Washington D.C. Human Rights people are your very happy Liberal types who delight in letting others, especially any Christian centric body know that being noninclusive is not the USA way according to 'them'. If these Muslimz want to attend a Yeshiva is the Rabbi and the board of directors supposed to allow them their prayer rugs as well as their call to prayer where twice a day a loud speaker blares and these people get down ass to face on their rugs and ask their Alla for whatever. The Gov. has no business dictating a private body or institution policy. No one ethnic group has any business telling another how manage its criteria. If these Muzlimz knew going in it was a Catholic Inst. it behooves them to fall in line with the Catholic Inst. bylaws. Didn't they get the memo going in? It a CATHOLIC School.
I SAY IF THEY DO NOT LIKE THE WAY WE DO THINGS IN THE US GO BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM WHETHER IT IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY I DOn't UNDERSTAND AMERICANS SETTLING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS TOTALLY UNAMERICAN SETTLING WE DO NOT GO TO THERE COUNTRY AND START CHANGING HOW THEY DO THINGS.
Absolutely……Bye bye.
I believe that most are missing the point. Yes, we are stupid to allow this to go on but leaving isn't the answer. Standing up and stopping it is the answer. Holding the politicians feet to the fire until they change their conduct and start enforcing the Constitution. If this continues we will have civil war in the country yet again in order to regain this great country of ours.
Screw islam! Human Rights? Looks like the Catholics are being violated and attacked. Just wait till they start stoning and beheading them.
This action by the Muslim students involved seems to have been premeditated and calculated. They (the Muslims) enrolled knowing full well that it was a Catholic school, and likely did so specifically to undermine and challenge the schools religious beliefs.
That they enroll "human Rights" groups to do their bidding shows that they are well versed in using domestic democratic institutions to further their agenda, which, as clearly dictated in their Quran is worldwide Sharia law.
And they, the Islamists, are really quite open about their intentions. Every imam preaches it, every Muslim is taught it, every Islamic state preaches it, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt (under its new Muslim Brotherhood leader), every terrorist (Hamas, Hezbollah etc.) and Palestinian charter states it and we, for some reason choose to ignore it.
Their process is fairly simple, break down every barrier and every competing religion’s structures, usually focusing on educational institutions first and expand their Islamic influence and their presence.
They do so by first protesting that they are discriminated against claiming “Islamophobia” which usually gets them their foot in the door.
In educational institutions they quickly form Muslim student Associations groups who immediately co-op the Terrorist / Palestinian manifesto and target Jewish Student Groups who are the smallest and most vulnerable.
Ever notice that they are the only student religious organization with an aggressive political agenda that openly and always protests and attacks other religious groups? Ever notice their extensive efforts to recruit others to their cause thus expanding their influence and agenda?
They then endow Islamic Chairs and Islamic Studies programs at major universities (by obtaining huge grants from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Dubai etc.) and, by use of their donated petro dollars buy influence and continue to expand their stated agenda. Follow the money and you will find CAIR, Saudi Arabia and their conduit charities and support organizations and you will see it at almost every major university. Take a look at UC Berkeley, Columbia, and York University in Toronto to see glaring examples.
Do I have a right not to hear the Muslim call to prayer if I walk by a mosque. I find it highly offensive since I consider Islam to be a joke. Who do I sue about this? Or do only Muslims have the right to complain? And no – I'm not a Christian. I'm an atheist and believe all religions are meaningless – but Islam and their special breed of fanatics are the worst.
Get used to it folks. Your own government supports and instigates the muslims. In the near future, you will find the muslims are the death squads for the federal government.
If a muslinm is offended by catholosism why are they attending a catholic university? What's next? Who is defending the rights of the catholics? I am neither catholic or muslim and BOTH have the right to believe what they feel is right but they DO NOT have the right to dictate the beliefs of the other. What if a catholic went to a Muslim school? Would they remove any reference to Allah in order to accomodate the catholicv student? I am certain they would not. The fact is they shouldn't have to and neither should the catholics. I do appreciate the right we have in this contry to our freedom of religion but the muslims seems to be the only ones that have any rights in this country. What ever happened to the govenment which derives its powers from the consent of the goverened? Maybe things like this should be put to a vote and let the people decide. They always use the separation of church and state as an excuse when it allows them to remove God from our schools, our country, etc. Whether you believe in God or you don't, you will find out on that fateful day when you life comes to an end, and you find yourself standing there trying to explain, but then it will be too late.
Well said Kim.
Amen to that!
Islam's Latest Contributions to Peace.
"Mohammed is God's apostle. Those who follow him are harsh.
to the unbelievers but merciful to one another" Quran 48:29.
2012.10.05 (Douentza, Mali) – Islamists fire on a civilian vehicle, killing two passengers.
2012.10.05 (Jalingo, Nigeria) – Fundamentalists bomb a bar, killing at least one person.
2012.10.04 (Baghdad, Iraq) – Mujahid bombers take out five Iraqis.
2012.10.03 (Magas, Ingushetia) – Four Russian policemen are ambu.
shed and killed by Religion of Peace extremists.
2012.10.03 (Aleppo, Syria) – Three suicide car bombings by al-Nusra terrorists leave nearly fifty dead.
2012.10.02 (Mubi, Nigeria) – At least twenty-six Christian students are singled out and executed by Islamists at their campus. Some are shot, others have their throats cut.
This is EVERY SINGLE DAY! You can go to the THE RELIGION OF PEACE website. They keep up with all the daily GENOCIDE of NON MUSLIMS that the main stream media IGNORES!
Do mosques in a Catholic neighborhood violate Catholics' human rights?
Tell those damn Muslims to go pound sand!!! We Catholics will not bend for you!!
First of all, we need to understand that contrary to our illustrious President, this is a Christian Nation and was founded for that purpose. Don't believe me? Research a 'still standing' Supreme Court Ruling from 1892, Church of Holy Trinity vs US. I'll give you a quote from the decission and you make the call.
"We, greatly commending, and graciously accepting of, their Desires for the Furtherance of so noble a Work, which may, by the Providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the Glory of his Divine Majesty, in propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God, and may in time bring the Infidels and Savages, living in those parts, to human Civility, and to a settled and quiet government; DO, by these our Letters-Patents, graciously accept of, and agree to, their humble and well intended Desires."
Language of similar import may be found in the subsequent charters of that colony, from the same king, in 1609 and 1611, and the same is true of the various charters granted to the other colonies. In language more or less emphatic is the establishment of the Christian religion declared to be one of the purposes of the grant. The celebrated compact made by the pilgrims in the Mayflower, 1620, recites:
"Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid."..
Now YOU tell me that this was not ordained to be and blessed by God for being a Christian nation! Sorry Mr. Obama, it's time for you to move out of Government Housing at 1600 Pennsylvania AV, Washington D.C.
First of all, we need to understand that contrary to our illustrious President, this is a Christian Nation and was founded for that purpose. Don't believe me? Research a 'still standing' Supreme Court Ruling from 1892, Church of Holy Trinity vs US. I'll give you a quote from the decission and you make the call.
"We, greatly commending, and graciously accepting of, their Desires for the Furtherance of so noble a Work, which may, by the Providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the Glory of his Divine Majesty, in propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God, and may in time bring the Infidels and Savages, living in those parts, to human Civility, and to a settled and quiet government; DO, by these our Letters-Patents, graciously accept of, and agree to, their humble and well intended Desires."
Language of similar import may be found in the subsequent charters of that colony, from the same king, in 1609 and 1611, and the same is true of the various charters granted to the other colonies. In language more or less emphatic is the establishment of the Christian religion declared to be one of the purposes of the grant. The celebrated compact made by the pilgrims in the Mayflower, 1620, recites:
"Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid."..
Now YOU tell me that this was not ordained to be and blessed by God for being a Christian nation! Sorry Mr. Obama, it's time for you to move out of Government Housing at 1600 Pennsylvania AV, Washington D.C.
ballot input…love to see it
This is utter nonsense….what part of Catholic school do they not understand. They sure aren't going to attend…
Watch this one, Christian rights are being taken away right and left. It will be interesting if this University has to change for them, or if they will change? Why would they even be allowed to attend this University? T