An athletic association consisting of private Christian and Catholic parochial schools in Texas is drawing national attention after refusing to grant an Islamic high school membership. From the New York Times:
With 500 students, increasing academic prestige and an established soccer team, Iman Academy SW, an Islamic school in Houston, was seeking membership in 2010 to the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, a group that organizes competition among more than 200 schools in the state.
In addition to an application form, Iman Academy SW was given a questionnaire. Among the questions:
“Historically, there is nothing in the Koran that fully embraces Christianity or Judaism in the way a Christian and/or a Jew understands his religion. Why, then, are you interested in joining an association whose basic beliefs your religion condemns?”
“It is our understanding that the Koran tells you not to mix with (and even eliminate) the infidels. Christians and Jews fall into that category. Why do you wish to join an organization whose membership is in disagreement with your religious beliefs?”
“How does your school address certain Christian concepts? (i.e. celebrating Christmas)”
The private-schools association, known by the acronym Tapps, was established in the 1970s to coordinate sports among Christian schools. The organization drew national attention this week when it refused to reschedule a state semifinal boys basketball game for an Orthodox Jewish day school, which could not play at the scheduled time because its players observe the Sabbath.
Lawsuits and legislation are being considered to prevent this situation from happening again. Searching the TAPP website reveals that several Catholic schools are members of TAPP. Just like immigration, it shocks me that some Catholics today are willing to engage in this sort of xenophobia and denigration of the “other” when they themselves were victims of such prejudices just decades ago. Imagine the prophetic witness that the Catholic members of TAPP could offer by withdrawing support from the organization until the association changes its policies.
The irony of this is, of course, the fact that TAPPS doesn't embrace (not too sure about how they're using that verb) Islam in a way that Muslims understand their religion.
It is outrageous, and while Catholics are obviously not in the least bit disposed toward voicing outrage, I wonder if they wouldn't venture a protest if a Protestant group offered such a distorted depiction of their faith?
The fact that Catholics get to belong is because they believe in Jesus, and their membership is permitted so long as they don't try to run things, because they are considered to be practicing a corrupted version of Christianity since they "worship and pray to" Mary and these people they designated as saints. Jews are grandfathered in (no pun intended) because Jews are God's Chosen People. But Islam...
The Koran presents Jesus as an important prophet with an alternate, but no less fantastic, birth story, making Jesus an important part of Islam. However, Islam denies Jesus's divinity and the Koran tells Muslims in strong terms that God does not want people to worship Jesus as God - that would disgust God in the extreme and God's reaction would not be pretty.
This business in Texas is just dumb. If it's any comfort, the Catholic schools that my children have attended in different parts of the country (currently near Texas) have all had Muslim students attending as well, and they did not have to recant their religious beliefs in order to do so, though they were not excused from religion class or school Mass.
It's funny, though, that, given that in the "Christian's" mind it's Christianity vs. Islam, they don't want the rivalry to manifest itself on the playing field. Maybe their reaction to the request of Iman Academy is based on fear of losing and what that might represent.
But one could argue that Catholics made themselves acceptable to Protestant majorities, and hence welcome to participate in leagues like this, by assimilating somewhat to the mainstream culture; for example, by surrounding extra ecclesiam nulla salus with protective mimicry about "separated brethren" and by conceding that error hath some rights after all. TAPP seems to be asking Iman HS whether and how much they intend to assimilate, and basing their decision on the answer. Is that really so outrageous?
Obviously not in Texas it doesn't. Could the desire to be accepted, to be included, is more important to these Catholic schools than being a witness to "the Catholic affirmation of religious freedom?"
Fighting Irish. Crusaders, Knights, Warriors, etc.