Christian College Drops Religious Mascot to Avoid Offending Muslims

The Holy Cross Crusaders are giving its nearly 100-year-old mascot the heave-ho to avoid offending other religious groups. And by “other religious groups” —well, you can probably figure that out for yourself.

The Jesuit school said they had decided to retire its beloved Knight for the sake of “inter-religious understanding and dialogue.”

“For some, knight imagery alone could convey nobility, chivalry and bravery. However, the visual depiction of a knight, in conjunction with the moniker Crusader, inevitably ties us directly to the reality of the religious wars and the violence of the Crusades. This imagery stands in contrast to our stated values,” college president Philip Boroughs said in a statement.

While they will continue to be known as the Crusaders, the school’s costumed mascot will be replaced with an interlocking H and C on a purple shield.

“While we acknowledge that the Crusades were among the darkest periods in church history, we choose to associate ourselves with the modern definition of the word ‘crusader,’ one which is representative of our Catholic, Jesuit identity and our mission and values as an institution and community. We are not simply crusaders, we are Holy Cross Crusaders,” the president said.

The student journalists at Holy Cross were not so forgiving. They decided to change their newspaper’s name from The Crusader to The Spire.

Anne Murphy, a 1994 graduate of the school, is among the alumni furious at the change.

“My pocketbook is closed,” she said on the “Todd Starnes Radio Show.” “What is wrong with demonstrating defending the faith?”

Ms. Murphy took great exception to the college’s desire for “inter-religious understanding.”

“If I were to go to a Jewish college, such as the academically strong Brandeis University, would I demand bacon and ham biscuits at breakfast? Of course not!   If I were to go to the predominantly Mormon Brigham Young University, would I wear a halter top and whatever those girls wear in rap videos to class? Of course not!  If I were to attend events at a Hindu temple, would I demand ice cream or a hamburger? No. Do I think as part of inter-religious understanding, Holy Cross should stop serving bacon, ham, beef and ice cream, as well as require all students to dress in the conservative manner requested by the Mormon church? No. Why should the Crusader image—one of a martyr for his or her faith—be what gets thrown aside?”

“Perhaps I was lucky to still be at the school when it was a bit more religious,” she told the “Todd Starnes Radio Show.” “I fear that the school is going to disavow religion altogether. What a shame. It was the first Catholic college in New England.”

Followers of this commentary should not be surprised that Holy Cross capitulated to political correctness. It’s infecting every nook and cranny of our society. It can only be stopped if people of faith take a united stand against this nonsense.

But if Holy Cross wants to truly avoid offending Muslims, they might want to consider changing the name of the college, too.