Church Goer Calls Homeland Security on Muslim Student Visitors

A member of a church in New York called Homeland Security over a visit to the church by two Muslim college students working on a school project, according to The Washington Times.

Nazareth College president Daan Braveman sent a campus-wide email about the case, questioning the church member's decision to call the Homeland officials.

"This past Sunday, two of our Muslim students visited a local church as part of the Sociology of Religion course, which requires students to attend religious services that are not of their own tradition," Braveman wrote. "Our students were very well-behaved and appeared to be well-received at the church; nevertheless, a church member subsequently called Homeland Security to express concern about Muslim students from Nazareth."

A New York State Police representative contacted the college to confirm the students were enrolled there, and then ended their interest in the case when that was verified, Braveman wrote.

The college president's letter did not name the church, but local media said it was Browncroft Community Church, a non-denominational evangelical church near Nazareth College in a Rochester, N.Y., suburb.

Rob Cattalani, the church's senior pastor, in an interview with Rochester's Democrat and Chronicle,  said the church does not exclude anyone. He said the students appeared to be older, which could have led to the suspicion of the church member.

"It's regrettable that this happened, but they are certainly welcome back," Cattalani said.

Braveman said he planned to discuss the incident with members of the church in person. He said the incident caused him to be "troubled and indeed angered."

"This incident underscores, especially in the context of the larger environment, the importance of our work in promoting interfaith understanding and respect across lines of religious difference," the college president added.

Nazareth College offers more than 60 majors programs and teaches 2,000 undergrads and 800 graduate students, according to the school's website.

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