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
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?
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.
Our Priests!
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?
Amanda Pellegrino, Tower Staff
October 28, 2011
Filed under News, Top Stories
