Does a Jewish student who consciously attends a Catholic college have the right to criticize the Catholic presence on campus?
Boston College student Abby Fried says yes, in The Heights:
…I came to Boston College, where I often feel like Catholicism is impressed upon me.
[…]
One of the things I love about BC is the great commitment to service, which stems from the Jesuit ideal of “men and women for others.” I salute that ideal, but I think it often alienates those of us who are grateful to participate in these service opportunities, but who aren’t Catholic. I definitely don’t feel comfortable when the group starts the reflection and I look around to see that I am the only person not bowing my head in prayer.
There is a common response when I muster the courage to voice my dissatisfaction. “You chose to come to a Catholic school. You knew what you were getting yourself into.” Valid argument, but when I was applying to BC as a high school student, everyone downplayed the religious aspect. I remember clearly one student who told me, “It’s not like Catholicism is shoved down your throat. It’s available to those who are Catholic and want Catholic services, but not overwhelming to non-Catholics.” I disagree - it’s overwhelming sometimes.
I am happy to say that I have not experienced any downright anti-Semitic behavior since I’ve come to BC. In my experience, the main problem is ignorance, not hate. Most people at BC are educated enough to know that Judaism isn’t “lesser” than Christianity in any way, but they know nothing about it. I have a lot of pride in the history of the Jewish people, and most people here don’t even know the stories of Hanukkah and Passover! Sure, I’m no expert on Catholicism, but I know the stories about Jesus.
Fried said going to BC has made her “more proud of my Jewish heritage.”
In the same issue, student Emily Neumeier writes about her interfaith perspective and a trip to Israel with the Episcopal Eagles:
When it comes to my religion, I am like the majority of students on the Boston College campus: I am a Christian. I like to tell people, however, that it seems my life, in and out of the classroom, is a constant interfaith experience. I was raised as an Episcopalian, my significant other is Jewish, and last year I chose to pursue a minor in the excellent Middle Eastern and Islamic studies program offered here at BC. All the religions of Abraham converge.
[…]
After returning from Israel and Palestine, I wanted to help somehow. I realized that one of the deadliest culprits in our world is ignorance. People fear and hate what they do not understand. And I realized that breaking down stereotypes and prejudices does not only need to happen in Israel and Palestine, but it needs to begin first in our own lives.
Last year I, along with a fabulous group of enthusiastic, intelligent women, formed the Daughters of Abraham, an interfaith book group for faculty, students, and staff that explores the three Abrahamic faiths: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Once a month we come together to discuss a selection from a work that explores one of the three faiths or one that incorporates them all. This is not the first or only Daughters of Abraham: we are among five groups. The first group began in Cambridge, Mass., in direct response to the need for solidarity after the events of Sept. 11.
Neumeier admits interfaith dialogue is difficult, but “if something is difficult, it is that much more worth doing.”

What kind of jewish idiot would attend a Catholic school and then bitch about Catholicism being a heavy influence on campus?