WASHINGTON (EWTN News/CNA)—A formal legal complaint filed against Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., is being strongly denounced by both Catholics and Muslims, who deny that Muslim students are being discriminated against by the university’s display of Catholic imagery and symbolism.
“I regret very much that our Muslim students have been used as pawns in a manufactured controversy,” said John Garvey, president of Catholic University.
Garvey said in an Oct. 28 statement that the charges were “completely without foundation.”
The complaint against the university was filed by legal activist professor John Banzhaf, known in recent years for his multiple “fat lawsuits” against fast food restaurants, including McDonald’s and KFC.
A law professor at George Washington University’s Law School, Banzhaf teaches a unique “Legal Activism” course that has been dubbed “suing for credit.”
Students in the course “become public-interest lawyers by bringing their own legal actions.”
Banzhaf and his students have become well-known for their “hundreds of innovative public-interest legal actions.”
The 60-page formal legal complaint filed with the D.C. Office of Human Rights by Banzhaf claims that the university was illegally denying equal access to facilities and services for Muslim students on the basis of their religion.
The complaint charged that “usually, or at least frequently, these Muslim students at CUA find that they must perform their prayers surrounded by symbols of Catholicism.”
The presence of a crucifix, image of Jesus or picture of the Pope is something “which many Muslim students find inappropriate and not especially conducive to praying according to their very different religious beliefs,” the complaint says.
The complaint also says that some Muslim students must pray 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,” which is “hardly a place where students of a very different religion are likely to feel very comfortable.”
Banzhaf observed that the university’s Columbus School of Law has a Jewish student association and argued that the university is discriminating against Muslim students because it does not sponsor a formal Muslim association or provide a separate center for Muslim activities.
He also raised a separate issue in his filing with the rights office, arguing that the introduction of single-sex dormitories on campus “constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex against female students.”
This charge reiterates a previous legal complaint that Banzhaf filed against the university several months ago for moving to single-sex dormitories for freshman students. That complaint is currently pending before the Office of Human Rights.
“Banzhaf has created the perception that it is our Muslim students themselves who are offended by the symbols of Catholicism on our campus, and that they object to the absence of worship space set aside specifically for them,” university president John Garvey said.
“The fact is that no Muslim student at Catholic University has registered a complaint with the university about the exercise of their religion on campus.”
Garvey also noted that an Oct. 28 Washington Post article revealed that Banzhaf himself had not received any complaints from Muslim students at Catholic University, but had instead based his complaint on a Washington Post article from December 2010.
“Contrary to the impression Mr. Banzhaf would like to create, the December 2010 Post article spoke in overwhelmingly positive terms about the experience of Muslim students at Catholic University and explained why they are attracted to us,” said Garvey.
“A considerable part of the attraction stems from the fact that our community, because of its own outward expressions of Catholic faith, makes them feel comfortable living their faith among us.”
“The evidence bears this out,” he said. “Since 2007 our Muslim enrollment has more than doubled, from 56 to 122.”
Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called the crucifix complaint “a non-issue.”
“Muslims pray all the time in various locations,” Hooper told EWTN News. “A Muslim can pray anywhere, practically, from a bus station to a classroom to a cubicle at work.”
Hooper acknowledged that distracting images are present in many locations, but said that they should not prevent Muslims from focusing on their prayers.
“These kinds of things occur every day,” he said.
“Particularly at a Catholic institution, you would assume that there would be Catholic symbols in locations throughout the university.”
Hooper does believe that Muslim students at Catholic University should be permitted to have an organization on campus if other religious groups are allowed to. But he believes that the issue can be dealt with through dialogue rather than legal action.
“American Muslims have very good relations with the Catholic community,” he noted.
Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, also defended Catholic University.
“There is no requirement in the Constitution that can compel a Catholic university, or any institution for that matter with a faith-based connection, to change its doctrines, its practices or its procedures and beliefs to accommodate a student of another faith,” Sekulow told Sean Hannity in an Oct. 27 Fox News interview.
In his Oct. 28 statement, Garvey reassured Muslim students that they are “welcome” at Catholic University.
“Our Catholic teaching instructs us to embrace our fellow human beings of all faith traditions,” he said.
“They enrich us with their presence and help to promote interreligious and intercultural understanding.”
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I love the bit about the presence of the “cathedral” (um, it’s not a cathedral) making Muslim students feel unwelcome. So, should CUA raze the Basilica?
This is what the commentator said on Hot Air:
I can solve this in sixty seconds: “Those offended by Catholic iconography should not choose a private Catholic university for their higher education.” That didn’t take six months or waste thousands of taxpayer dollars. The very idea that this needs six months of investigation tells me that we need to eliminate the Office of Human Rights, and perhaps replace it with the Office of Minding Your Own Business and the Department of Having A Clue In The First Place.
That about sums it up for me. If this guy wants to file a complaint, that’s one issue of utter nonsense, but what’s not in this article is that this government office WILL investigate this and they say that could take 6 months.
I think it was Chesterton who said it best: when it comes to beating up on the Catholic Church any old stick will do.
I am getting tired of hearing about how persons of other religious beliefs or no beliefs come to a Catholic institution and expect that religious items be packed away because they feel uncomforable or distracted. Catholic institutions should not back down and appease the complainers. If some one does not like what he sees I invite them to pack their bags and find a different institution that suits him.recent
So the lawyer is suing to increase Muslims’ freedom of religious practice, but he’s also suing to block single-sex dorms.
Talked to any devout Muslims lately, Mr. Banzhaf?
“The complaint also says that some Muslim students must pray 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,” which is “hardly a place where students of a very different religion are likely to feel very comfortable.”
This just goes to show how little he knows of the Muslim faith. Muslims hold Mary in very high esteem.
Actually, the Muslims may not find the shrine of the Immaculate Conception too unsettling, as I think they also believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.
Banzhaf probably doesn’t know or care about that.
And let me make a different point: as a Catholic I feel a lot less distracted and a lot more at home around Islamic people, who are at least worshiping God, than when I look at this secular temple to lust, materialism, and ego fulfillment that our culture has become. Walk down a city street, every time you turn your head there is another image of half naked female trying to sell some idiotic product, or turn the channels on the TV and see an endless stream of violence and sex. It’s very depressing. It is actually refreshing to me to see pious and reverent people of different faiths… much more refreshing than everything else around.
All of this is a nonsense. This is a catholic institution and as such has the right to display the crucifixes which is our identity.
This professor, (instigator) should not be part of the staff. He is an agitator. The students know in advance that this is a catholic institution so they are prepared to see religious images, statues, etc.
I urge the president of CUA to be strong and not to give in to this nonsense.
Wow, even Muslims are saying this isn’t an issue. Maybe this should tell Mr. Banzhaf that his case doesn’t hold water. I mean, if you’re teaching a course that’s referred to as “suing for credit”, I think that tells everyone what to think about you. The law, you’re doing it wrong.
Normally if a guest comes into your home and demands that you rearrange the furniture or paint the room a different color they will be reminded of their freedom to leave and visit someone else if they like. That a religious institution could be shamed into or required to remove its faith icons is a more extreme demand and any that feel it should be required should be made to leave and never return.
Would it be safe to say that the “Muslim students” would be equally offended by the presence of co-ed student dorms at CUA? Banzhaf’s legal forays contradict themselves.
I wonder how much money this man makes by suing everyone that he feels is doing wrong. Every non-Catholic going to a Catholic grade school, high school or college knows what to expect when enrolling in these schools. If they don’t like anything about their curriculum or surroundings, all they have to do is enroll in a public school, or a non-denominational private school. Why do people have to make things so complicated in the world today! This lawyer makes “all lawyers” look bad. They are not all greedy like him. [I guess that is his ‘side-job’]
Hate to be pessimistic but probably the reason why the Muslim students have increased in enrolment at the Catholic University is because nobody is evangelizing them. So they feel “safe”. We have the obligation to “Go and make disciples of all nations”. So, we have to introduce them to Christ because they are studying in a Catholic University even if it is through academics. I have met and been friends with Muslims and they have a contagious form of proselytism. They believe thoroughly the teachings of their Koran. And if we go to their Muslim Universities in the Middle East, they surely would require us to study their religion. Not even allowed to see non-Muslims eating during Ramadan time in the UAE.
So, I hope the Catholic University faculty, staff and Catholic students are fervent enough in their faith that they will enkindle the non-Catholic students for love for Christ. Christ has already expressed his wish for the world to be on fire with His Love in the Scriptures. I just wish this is fulfilled soonest.
Asking the Catholic University of America to remove it Catholic symbols to avoid hurting Muslim feelings is unconscionable. Those who are offended are not kept captive – they are free to leave any time. Those who complain should be denied access and expelled! There are some who believe giving an antithetical religion recognition should be Anathema.
Has anybody in D.C. yet filed a legal ethics complaint against John Banzhaf with the appropriate local regulators of the bar?
Lawyers must not be allowed to get away with abusing legal procedures and due process. If complaints aren’t registered against Banzhaf now, when will they be? Waiting for the Banzhafs to grow into existential threats before addressing their abuses of the legal system’s power is waiting until too late.
Right now the Muslims are behaving; but for how much longer? Yes, some of them are here to better themselves, but, most are “plants” for the future take-over of this country by their “religion”. We reap just what we sow. +JMJ+
@JMJ: Most Muslims are not “plants” for takeover anymore than President Kennedy was an agent of the Vatican. We Catholics suffered plenty of discrimination from Protestant Americans over the years. We shouldn’t turn around and act that way toward Muslims now.
Dear President Garvey:
It is alarming to hear that in this time of the Muslim Brotherhood’s global jihad, with Christians being horribly abused all over the world, that the conquest is beginning in the U.S. by such things as litigation against the Catholic institutions. If you really study Islam objectively you realize that conquest of non-Muslim lands and plunder, abuse, and murder of non-Muslim populations is as basic in Islam as Mohammad’s conquest of Medina. Mohammad’s doctrine of abrogation (Mohammad’s Allah changed his mind) placed the Qur’anic precepts of jihad above any earlier, peaceful suras. Mohammad’s actions and sayings, recorded in the Haddith and Sura interpret the Qur’an (NOT the media or the U.S. Government or Catholic clergy) and show a history of violent conquest and abuse of non-Muslims. Mohammad stated that “war is deceit” and his doctrine of tagiyya (lying to non-Muslims) is well-developed. Mohammad’s doctrine of taysir (Sharia law is required to be enforced by ALL Muslims when there are enough Muslims/Muslims in power to enforce it) exposes “moderate” Muslims as merely passive in not yet enforcing Sharia. Sharia law (enforcement of Islamic principles) is Mohammad’s Allah’s “divine” law and claims worldwide jurisdiction. Sharia law ensures Islam as a self-perpetuating system. Mohammad’s doctrine of apostasy, in which he ordered that those who convert from or even criticize Islam be killed, ensures Islam as a closed system. No amount of dialogue or accommodation is going to change the nature of Islam.
Please remember that you are the President of a CATHOLIC university, upholding CATHOLIC principles and beliefs, with a responsibility to the CATHOLIC faith. You are not the President of an Islamic institution. You are not the President of an ecumenical or multicultural or modernist institution. As people with free will have the right of turning away from the Catholic faith, Muslim students have the right of not attending a Catholic university but they do not have the right to enforce Sharia law on a Catholic university in the U.S. (yet). Please uphold the Catholic faith unashamedly for the world to see and run to, and let the dead bury their dead.
@Mary: Thank you for writing that letter to President Garvey. You are 100% right. I hope he takes your letter seriously and gives it much thought.
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