Lawyer files complaint with DC Office of Human Rights concerning CUA’s treatment of Muslims

A lawyer from Nehora Law Firm filed a complaint not just against a catholic university, but the Catholic University of America in Washington. The 60 page complaint to the Office of Human Rights concerns the Christian symbols they are surrounded by on campus. Oh, the horror.

Correction: The original headline is incorrect and badly written. I had intended to change this headline much earlier today, but was unable to update the post. I’ve change the headline and the first paragraph. The headline and the first paragraph implied students filed the suit, but as noted in my actual post (last paragraph) it was a lawyer who filed the complaint, and no students complained to the University. Speculation students went to the lawyer directly would be speculation … but you have to ask where he got the information do you not?

From Catholic U’s The Tower.

The official allegations claim that CUA, “does not provide space – as other universities do – for the many daily prayers Muslim students must make, forcing them instead to find temporarily empty classrooms where they are often surrounded by Catholic symbols which are incongruous to their religion,” according to a press release on PRLOG.com.

When you attend The Catholic University of America, what do you expect? The complaint also

… objects that Muslims must pray at the school’s chapels “and at the cathedral that looms over the entire campus – the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.”

What do you want them to do? Tear the Shrine down? The complaint also mentions the school will not permit an official Muslim organization. I assume they don’t want to just get together, but would require the University to provide funding paid for by student fees as well.

Have I not read stories about how accommodating Muslim countries have been concerning visitors who bring Bibles, crucifixes and Stars of David? Makes you go hummmmmmmm.

As a side note, the complaint also mentions same-sex dorms.

This formal complaint also maintains that the new same-sex residence halls are particularly discriminating against female students, which is a new position on the same-sex lawsuit that began last month.

CUA has had co-ed dorms since my first or second year at CUA in 1984/1985, and at the time there were questions that came up, but I think they needed to do it simply because they did not have enough room for the girls. Recently CUA is moving towards same-sex residence halls.

In short … this lawyer – note the University states not one student has complained to the school – thinks CUA’s policies promoting same-sex dorms and not recognizing an official Muslim student group is a human rights violation. Huh?

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Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

18 Comments

  1. KrisTr on October 28, 2011 at 10:14 am

    I assume that they did not see Catholic symbols when they signed up for classes at this university. Or, did they sign up for only one purpose, to sue later. Any guesses what would happen to me if I went to Saudi Arabia and complained that some guy yelling from?loud speakers?(call to prayer?) interrupts my meditations on human rights and freedom of religion?



  2. Dimsdale on October 28, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    So these students went right for a lawyer and didn’t try to approach the school at all?? It sounds like another case of using our free society against us by trying to make private institutions bend to the whims of a minority group.? I would like to think that the current understanding (right or wrong) of the separation of church and state would work against them this time.? I wonder: do Muslim schools accommodate Christian students?? Or let them attend at all?? I highly doubt it.?
    ?
    The fact that they are attending CATHOLIC University should have given them a clue.? Why didn’t they attend a more secular school if the cross and other trappings of Christianity give them such offense??? Clearly, they are trying to make a point, and tear down this institution in the process.
    ?
    Maybe they need a Christian form of a jizyah tax to pay for their demands…



    • crystal4 on October 29, 2011 at 10:03 am

      Dimsdale, please do a simple google search before going ballistic.



  3. winnie on October 28, 2011 at 1:48 pm

    “What do you want them to do? Tear the Shrine down?”
    Yes, that’s exactly what they would love to see happen.? This lawsuit is the biggest waste of time and it should immediately be thrown out.? “Caveat emptor” doesn’t apply to Muslims?? They signed up for it, they ‘bought’ their classes, no one held a gun to their heads to attend this university, the symbols weren’t hidden when they toured the university (as the Obama administration wanted ND to do back in ’09)…there is really nothing mysterious, surprising or shocking about seeing Catholic symbols at a Catholic university.? I believe this is a set up.? And if it’s proven to be, the University should sue this lawyer for being such an aggravating little pissant (& for legal fees, of course).



  4. Plainvillian on October 28, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    CUA is a private institution?? Expel the Muslims.? Return their tuition.? Problem solved.



  5. Tim-in-Alabama on October 28, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    Infidels.



  6. Kromen on October 28, 2011 at 8:31 pm

    It would be nice if any of you bothered to read the whole story. No Muslim student complained about CUA, it was filed by a professor who loves to sue, be it the tobacco industry or fast food. The headline is a complete lie, but you jumped on the bandwagon. You would think that people would do some research instead of being led by the nose all the time. Steve, for such a conservative, you are a true sheep.



    • Steve M on October 28, 2011 at 9:38 pm

      True sheep? Screw you. I’ve wanted to change the post since this morning but was unable to do so until now for a variety of reasons. That said, do you really think the lawyer came up with all of the detail and filed the complaint on his own without information from Muslim students at CUA? Sure, that’s speculation but I’d bet on it.



    • ricbee on October 28, 2011 at 10:20 pm

      Of course,the shyster files & then looks for clients to sign on to a “class action” suit.



    • Kromen on October 29, 2011 at 1:48 am

      You had over 12 hours to change it. You think anyone that read it in that time is going to bother to return to see, Oops, Steve made a slight error? The seeds of misinformation have already been sewn. Do a quick Google on John Banzhaf III. He’s files more lawsuits than you probably change underwear. His vanity plate on his vehicle says SU BASTARDS. He’s filed suits against tobacco, fast food, television, and countless other industries. ?I doubt he has even met a Muslim. If he did, he would know that Jesus doesn’t freak us out, nor does a crucifx.



    • gillie28 on October 29, 2011 at 3:29 am

      Kromen, well, yeah, I did return to read the update, as I’m sure did others.? Also, when you say “Jesus doesn’t freak out” muslims, that?is a very sweeping statement.???It depends on which ones you are talking about.? Perhaps the Coptic Christians in Egypt might dispute?that assertion.? Religions are made up of people and subject to human evils, weaknesses, prejudices?and failings – some people more than others.? You’ll find the same problems in every religion, with varying degrees of application.
      p.s. you might have given Steve the benefit of the doubt since he?openly admitted he made a mistake and corrected it.?



  7. ricbee on October 28, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    ?These nuisance cases should be investigated as to who is paying for them-our friends,the Saudis? the Iranis? Our legal system needs refinement. A losing plaintiff should have to pay all expenses,court fees & defense costs.



  8. winnie on October 29, 2011 at 4:31 am

    Steve, I come here enough to know that when an error is made it is admitted and corrected as quickly as possible and then flagged on the main page of the blog with bold lettering & increased font size.? There were no seeds of misinformation sown here.? And really, it was only the headline…the story itself was factual and referred to the plaintiff as an attorney.?? You can’t be responsible for people who hit & run (just read the title and not the entire story).? Whatever.? I don’t see anything wrong with the story.



  9. crystal4 on October 29, 2011 at 9:30 am


  10. winnie on October 29, 2011 at 9:38 am

    Seriously?? “Newshounds:? We watch FOX so you don’t have to”?? What does Hannity have to do with the lawsuit/story?? And how does a radical left-leaning blog (opinion) site relate to the story?



  11. crystal4 on October 29, 2011 at 10:11 am

    Story was twisted into a big lie (shocked, I tell you, I’m shocked) came from Hannity in his never ending efforts to gin up islamophobia in the country.



  12. winnie on October 29, 2011 at 11:04 am

    So, what you’re saying is that there is not a lawsuit that contains the information shared here on this site?? Or *is* there a lawsuit against this university?? I really am trying to understand where you’re coming from on this (besides FOX is bad and Hannity hates Muslims).



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