Muslim Students Deserve a Worship Space on Campus
Travis J. Dichoso, Class of 2013
October 28, 2011
Filed under Quill
Students in Engineering at CUA endemically have more interaction with students of the Islamic faith than the rest of the student body. Muslim students work hard, are humble, and hold all the same values as Catholics; not to mention their emphasis on practicing modesty and temperance. These students deserve a quiet space for worship on our campus.
With a requirement of praying five times each day, many Muslim students have no appropriate place to go during the school day. They sometimes find empty classrooms, or maybe a corner in the Biomed lounge. However, all of these places are subject to disruption, oblique glances, and many other distractions unfitting for a worship space. And who are they worshiping? As the papal declaration Nostra Aetate reminds us, “The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all-powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to men.” In many ways, Muslims are closer to Christians than even those of the Jewish faith. Muslims at least acknowledge Jesus as a prophet in addition to giving Mother Mary more face-time in the Koran than even the New Testament.
Reason. Faith. Service. This is the mantra of our university. Faith is integral to what it means to be a student at Catholic University and these students have a lot of it. We should support them in their faith in God. The argument is then that we open the doors to obligating ourselves to offer religious worship spaces to all other faiths. First off, we do not believe we are obligated to do so. Providing worship space for Muslims is a kind gesture. There are already resources on campus to connect people of other faiths with local congregations in the area. There is also a difference between providing a peaceful space for prayer and erecting a mosque on campus. And the fact is, there is no practical need for worship areas dedicated for other faiths because there is no other aggregate, devout religious population with the same degree of observances at CUA, as is the case with our Muslim students.
I do not believe that Banzhaf cares for the welfare of the Muslim students at our university as much as he cares to gain more notoriety. I also do not believe that he hopes to create a more civil society on our campus with his frivolous lawsuits as much as he aims to drive a wedge further into our community. What I do believe is that providing worship space for students of the Islamic faith is no detriment to the integrity of our Catholic identity, but rather is a witness to it.
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[...] the problem, and a bureaucracy willing to entertain hateful foolishness.Also writing: Deacon Greg CUA student arguing for separate space Bainbridge Tags: CUA, Culture of Death, Education, Islam, Jesus Christ, Papal, RomePosted in [...]
These students have no privacy in their rooms? Then give them privacy. Not an Islamic chapel on the grounds of the Catholic University of America.
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Several comments:
1. Prayer can be done ANYWHERE – quietly, in one’s mind, is still prayer – I don’t think God is going to say to the one praying – ‘Hey, that doesn’t count, because you didn’t pray on an official prayer rug facing east”. If this was such a big deal to the Muslim student, they should have investigated this PRIOR to enrolling in a Catholic university. Perhaps they should have chosen a more liberal Catholic university, such as Georgetown.
2. What is the true motivation of a Muslim student for enrolling in a Catholic university, when there are so many other choices at non-Catholic institutions that can provide an excellent education at a range of tuition price levels.
3. If you believe Muslim students share the same values as Catholic students, think again. Muslim students who are true to their faith follow Sharia law, which to a believer supercedes any other law, including the laws of this land (which are based on Judeo-Christian values). Also, where are your modest, peace-loving friends when it comes time to speak out (loudly and publicly) against Islamic terrorism? They make a comment or two to you personally, but they are not out en masse joining with those of us who are truly for peace. Their version of peace occurs when all non-Muslims have either been converted to Islam or killed. If they adamantly deny this, they are not truthful, because that is the goal of Islam. The Koran gives them permission to lie if they are promoting Islam – this is called taqiyya.
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Dom Healey Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
@Liutas, You have misinterpreted taqiyya and made a false claim about the degree to which Muslims follow Sharia Law. Check your facts.
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Liutas Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
@Dom Healey, I have done my homework and my claim that Muslims use taqiyya to further the goals of Islam is not incorrect.
Here’s a description of the origin of taqiyya from Wikipedia:
“The practice of concealing one’s beliefs in dangerous circumstances originates in the Qur’an, which deems blameless those who disguise their beliefs in such cases.[8] The practice of taqiyya in difficult circumstances is considered legitimate by Muslims of various sects. Sunni and Shi’a commentators alike observe that verse 16:106 refers to the case of ‘Ammar b. Yasir, who was forced to renounce his beliefs under physical duress and torture.[9]
Quran 3:28 enjoins Muslims not to take the company of non-Muslims unless as a means of safeguarding themselves. “Let not the believers take those who deny the truth for their allies in preference to the believers – since he who does this cuts himself off from God in everything – unless it be to protect yourself against them in this way…”[10] Regarding 3:28, Ibn Kathir, a prominent authority writes, “meaning, except those believers who in some areas or times fear for their safety from the disbelievers. In this case, such believers are allowed to show friendship to the disbelievers outwardly, but never inwardly.” He quotes Muhammad’s companion, Abu Ad-Darda’, who said “we smile in the face of some people although our hearts curse them,” and Al-Hasan who said “the Tuqyah is acceptable till the Day of Resurrection.”[11]“
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Dom Healey Reply:
October 29th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
@Liutas, Yes, Taqiyya is invoked when the threat of physical harm is imminent, i.e a Muslim will be killed unless he/she denounces Islam. It is a misinterpretation that Muslims invoking Taqiyya have the freedom to “lie if they are promoting Islam” as was your original comment.
Liutas Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
@Dom Healey, I saw another post of yours where you identify yourself as someone in our armed forces. You said that you fully expect to face Islamic terrorism in Afghanistan or Iran to protect the United States; however, your comments seem to be for CUA providing Islamic-friendly prayer room space. Are you forgetting the circumstances surrounding Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan and his massacre of Ft. Hood men and women (and unborn baby) in the name of Allah? His superiors in the Army had plenty of warning signs, but they ignored them, primarily because of political correctness and they didn’t want to deal with it. To them it was a non-issue until it blew up. There are enough other instances of Muslims who appear to have assimilated into American life that run around shouting ‘Alu Akbar!’ and kill people they consider infidels. Keep your eyes and ears open.
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Dom Healey Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
@Liutas, My opinions do not represent any position of the US Army and I speak my opinions as a student at CUA and not as a member of the military. MAJ Hasan’s actions were horrible, but I am not naive enough to say that his bending by an extremist fringe cleric to commit the deeds he did represent the Islamic faith as a religious culture. Anders Breivik, a Norwegian Christian conservative murdered more than 90 teenagers at a summer camp in what he erroneously beleived, as MAJ Hasan did, in the defense of his faith. Luckily for you, myself, and all Christians I adopt the same stance that I do when I contend that MAJ Hasan’s actions undertaken in the name of fundamentalist Islam do not represent Muslims as a community, and thus inversely contend that Anders Breivik’s actions undertaken in the name of fundamentalist Christianity do not represent Christians as a community
Liutas Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
@Dom Healey, In response to your comparison of what Maj. Hassan did vs. Mr. Breivik, Islam commands the death of non-believers, whereas Christianity promotes forgiveness. Islamic terrorists live and die to fulfill that directive, whereas what Mr. Breivik did had absolutely nothing to do with the teachings of Christ. Also, look at the number of Christians being killed in Muslim countries that no one in the media is talking about. Christians are not running around performing acts of terrorism and killing people for not believing in Christ. You and I know that is not the case. However, people dying at the hands of Muslim ‘jihad’ is growing by the day. Don’t be such a dhimmi!
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Has anyone stopped to wonder why Muslims have to pray five times a day? Has anyone stopped to ask what they are supposed to pray about? How ironic it would be if they are praying (and it is my guess that this is what they are praying about) to convert everyone to Islam – especially on the grounds of a Catholic institution! Yet their peaceful religion calls for the death of anyone who converts out of Islam!!
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Catholic universities should require all matriculating students to sign a statement acknowledging that (a) the university’s mission is to teach and promote the Catholic faith, (b) the university is under no obligation to assist contrary faiths and doctrines, and (c) attempts to disrupt the promotion of Catholic faith on campus are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion.
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Liutas Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
@craig, Yes – in addition to all that, a further requirement should be mandatory classes in Catholic doctrine. Then the goal of Catholic University would be met – to promote the Catholic faith. If they don’t like that, then they should go elsewhere. Perhaps if they took such a class, they might start to understand the huge difference in our God who forgives, loves unconditionally, and sent his only Son for our salvation vs. a God who says enemies should be killed, wives can be beaten and men can take multiple wives.
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I’m not getting something here…? With a choice of over 4,000 colleges and universities in America, what’s the problem? Is there something confusing or misleading about the name “Catholic University”?
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Liutas Reply:
October 28th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
@pigrats, Good question – why do you THINK they are choosing to come to Catholic University? Do you think it might have something to do with their Islamic directive – to spread Islam? Or, do you think they are interested in converting to Catholicism? Of course, in Islam, the punishment for converting out of Islam is death, so…I’m guessing it isn’t choice B.
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I would like to know if a Muslim school would accomodate students of other faiths with a chapel or synagogue.
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These same called religious students are offended by a cross but they enroll in a Catholic University? Sorry but Muslims are clearly out to spread Islam in this country and request special rules for them selevs EVERYWHERE. It is a cult not a religion period and it simply breeds evil, and dont get me wrong other religions all have their issues, however I do not know of any other religion that breeds the violence, hatred, racism and bigotry that this cult does. Hence the reference to the satanic cult of Islam, Christians are killed EVERYDAY in Islamic countries strictly because of their belief in a religion other then theirs. Not even a conversation- and we do not need to prove to anyone that we are tolerant and better then them, its a pretty well known fact.
Take the most tolerant open society in Sweden, they have let these people in and they have serious issues on their hands, Malmo is basically not even controlled by Swedes anymore- its a no go zone and spreading, I can list another 20 countries like this that are passing laws against Muslims for a reason, not because they are peaceful and tolerant. We need stronger leader to put this country first not this Muslim in Chief in the white house. Yes raised as a muslim and converts to Rev Wrights Church, do we need to say more?
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[...] The Tower, news site of the Catholic University of America, Travis Bichoso makes an excellent case why building a non-sectarian worship space for Muslim students would be a wonderful gesture of [...]
Mr Dichoso, the muslim belief about Jesus and Mary pays no honor to Christianity as you imply. It is offensive to Jesus, Who is the Son of God, to call Him merely a prophet. It also makes Jesus out to be either delusional or a liar. And obviously it demeans the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, as well.
Make a similarly demeaning observation about Mohammed being a false or deluded prophet to a muslim and see if he thinks you honor him. In Saudi Arabia you’d probably lose your head over it.
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Good for you, Travis. I hope you were expecting the mountain of hate this article would produce. Muslim bashing is in full swing. The generalizations and assumptions about individuals sound very much like the comments we heard in the days when anti semitism and racism were acceptable. Remember the stereotypes? Jews: shrewd thieves and Christ killers; blacks: lazy, shiftless, subhuman, stupid, ruin property values, rape-your-daughter dangerous. To paraphrase MLK, someone should be judged by the content of their character; not their religion. There was a time when Catholics were viewed with the same disdain.
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John M Reply:
October 29th, 2011 at 10:48 am
@Jerry Hoffman,
You are an anti-Semite or a self-hater if you can’t understand that Muslims want the destruction of all Jews and the end to existence of Israel. The only hate here are from those who shout “Allahu Akbar” (correct translation: “Our god is better than the Jewish and Christian God”) while blowing up innocent Jews and Christians. Muslims are the modern Nazis, and those of you who sympathize with them are the modern Nazi sympathizers. Check any poll on Muslim attitudes, and you will find out pretty quickly there is no such thing as a “moderate” Muslim. If these Saudi students are unhappy at CUA, they can always transfer.
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Muslims do not have faith, they have beliefs. Faith is a grace that comes only through Jesus Christ and is proper only to Christians. See “Dominus Jesus”, letter of Blessed John Paul II
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Mr Banzhaf,
You bring shame and insult to the legal profession. It is your right in this country to do what you do, but please know that the majority of us out here look upon your kind of legal work with disgust and disdain. Really, Mr. Banzhaf, is there that little legal work out there for you that you have to drag the bottom of the pond fishing for insulting and harmful lawsuits? Perhaps it’s time you should retire! The students at Catholic University (Muslim and all faiths) are smart and will see through your charade and not get pulled to the bottom of your disgusting pond! Shame on you Mr. Banzhaf!
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