CUA President letter to students on Muslim controversy: "Banzhaf has created the perception our Muslim students are offended"

The Catholic University Of America

Office of the President

Washington, DC 20064

October 28, 2011

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

You may have heard or read news accounts this week about a complaint filed with D.C.’s Office of Human Rights regarding our Muslim students. The complaint has been filed by John Banzhaf, a professor at a neighboring university who has no affiliation with us. In a press release he issued October 19, Mr. Banzhaf claimed that Catholic University has “illegally discriminated” against Muslim students. That charge is completely without foundation. Worse, 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.

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. And today we learned from an article in the Washington Post that Mr. Banzhaf himself has not received any complaints from our Muslim students. Instead, according to today’s Washington Post, he based his complaint on an article that appeared in that newspaper in 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. 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. Since 2007 our Muslim enrollment has more than doubled, from 56 to 122.

I want to reassure all of you that our Muslim students are welcome at our University. Our Catholic teaching instructs us to embrace our fellow human beings of all faith traditions. They enrich us with their presence and help to promote inter-religious and inter-cultural understanding. I regret very much that our Muslim students have been used as pawns in a manufactured controversy. I urge all of you continue to show one another the respect and goodwill that are the hallmarks of The Catholic University of America.

John Garvey

President

Sunday 31 A. "Now, O priests, this commandment is for you": performing good works of love whether seen or unseen

In the new English text for the Creed we profess our faith in things both visible and invisible, whereas the previous version translated the original Latin text "seen and unseen". What's the difference and why is it important?

There are realities in God that always remain invisible to us even if we enjoy their physical proximity. Angels, for example, have spirits as do we but do not have bodies as we do, therefore whether here or in heaven we have to believe they exist and are present even though we cannot detect them except through the power of faith.

There are, however, "unseen" things that are thus because they are happening at a place and a time different than the one we are inhabiting at any given moment. The Lord speaks of these kinds of things in the Gospel today when he excoriates with severity the religious leaders of his day who "performed religious works to be seen."

For the full text of the homily for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time visit Meeting Christ in the Liturgy by clicking here.

Thank your priest on 30 October, World Priest Day, sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter

Last Sunday in October
October 30, 2011

Welcome to the World Priest Day web site!

World Priest Day

BLESSING FOR A PREIST

This blessing is for use at a Sunday Liturgy on World Priest Day or any weekend during the month of October. Following the Prayer after Communion, a member of the parish pastoral council or any parish member(s) leads the community in blessing the Priest.

During the month of October we celebrate World Priest Day. Priests daily use the gifts of healing, counseling, preaching and celebrating the Eucharist to and for the benefit of Catholics everywhere. We pause today with a special prayer for Father _________, asking God to continue to bless him in his ministry. I invite you now to extend your hands toward Father as I (We) lead a prayer of blessing.

All in the assembly extend their hands as the leader continues:

All honor and glory to you, Lord our God, maker of all and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In your faithfulness and love, you sent your only Son to live with us and to save us by giving his life for us.

Today we offer you thanks and praise for choosing Father ________, to be filled with the Spirit of Jesus as he leads your flock with zeal and wisdom. We ask you to give him your fullest blessing in his priestly ministry. Help him to serve others as generously as Jesus did, in times of sorrow and in times of joy.

Caring God, bless Father _________, so that he may nourish us with your Word, lead us in prayer and worship, and sustain us as a shepherd and father.

Saving God, bless Father _________, so that he may instruct us by his teaching, inspire us by his preaching, and encourage us by word and deed to work with him for the good of our parish.

Loving God be close to your servant Father _________, as he follows your Son. Guide him in paths that are level and smooth. May your powerful grace make him strong in faith, joyful in hope, and fervent in love, this day and every day to come. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

WeOur Priests!


Click here to read a letter from the WPD Coordinating Team.

Click here for the 2011 WPD Celebration Starter Kit. (PDF, 372KB)


WWME Logo World Priest Day is sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

World Priest Day is now celebrated concurrently with Serra Club's Priesthood Sunday:

Priesthood Sunday sponsored by Serra Club USA

Click here to find a Serra Club near you.


Have a question about World Priest Day? Contact the Coordinators.
Have a question about this web site? Contact the Webmasters.

CUA VP of Public Affairs: “We have not yet received any legal filing from the Office of Human Rights" referring to Mr. Banzhaf’s allegations

Intimidate the landlord into handing over a space free of charge on campus by fighting a battle for public sympathy in the press, get it designated "Muslim only", outgrow the space and come back demanding a larger beachhead, in a continuing process of reverse colonialism until, voila!, through higher rates of reproduction, continuous intimidation and a battle of wills, "The Muslim University of America". Don't think it's happened before?

((((..))))

Muslim Issue Hits National News

Other stories that might interest you...

• Standing in Solidarity: Amid attacks and false perceptions, stand in support of our University
• University Accused of Discriminating Against Muslims
• Letter to the Editor: Anti-Islam Online Comments an Affront to CUA Students
• Faculty Speculates Success of Dorm Lawsuit
• Muslim Students Deserve a Worship Space on Campus

Amanda Pellegrino, Tower Staff
October 28, 2011
Filed under News, Top Stories

“We have not yet received any legal filing from the Office of Human Rights referring to Mr. Banzhaf’s allegations,” said Victor Nakas, Associate Vice President of Public Affairs. “No students have registered complaints about the exercise of their religions on our campus,” said Victor Nakas to FOX News.

For full story click here to go to The Tower, official newspaper of CUA.

Photo: CUA Gibbons Hall from The Tower website.

Pro-Life Saturdays: "I am the 10%"

This powerful message is making its way around Facebook. When I speak with friends who have a child with Down Syndrome, unfailingly they all say how much joy their child brings into their life. It makes me feel ashamed to live in a country that chooses death instead of life for 90% of babies who are diagnosed with Down Syndrome.

Read the story at CatholicVote here.

The Passion of the Lord on Fridays: Abbi misercordia di noi! / Have mercy on us!

Philokalia

Seconda stazione: Gesù è caricato della croce
"Dolores nostros ipse portavit"
Second station: Jesus carries the Cross.

Per la gentilezza do Fabrizio Diomedi / through the kindness of Fabrizio Diomedi.

Archbishop Broglio to celebrate Veterans' Day Mass 6 November in Upper Marlboro, MD

St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Upper Marlboro, MD, will hold their annual event to honor military Veterans and to observe Veteran's Day at the weekend Masses of November 5th and 6th 2011.

Archbishop Broglio will be the main celebrant at the 11:30 a.m. Mass on November 6th. The theme this year is "Heroes Among Us."

As part of the observance parish members will display memorial photos of veteran family members and others to honor their service.

Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church is located at 14908 Main Street in Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772. A map is located here.

More information about Archbishop Broglio and the Archdiocese for the Military Services is located at the website for the Archdiocese: www.milarch.org.