Introduction to the Incident
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy is demanding answers after a notable Florida-based pastor said he was denied access to an interfaith chapel at DFW International Airport. The incident in question occurred on Sep. 26, when Pastor Tom Ascol attempted to attend a prayer service at a DFW Airport Interfaith Chapel, according to an Oct. 2 letter sent by Roy to DFW Airport CEO Chris McLaughlin. Upon arriving at the chapel, Ascol found the space occupied by “Imam-led Muslim prayer, complete with prayer rugs and participants,” the letter said.
Who is Pastor Tom Ascol?
Ascol appears to be the senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Fla., according to a profile on the organization’s website. A graduate of Texas A&M University and Fort Worth’s Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ascol previously served as a pastor and associate pastor at Texas churches, the website said.
The Situation Explained
Ascol further explained the situation in a statement on social media. “The main room had several men kneeling on mats with a Muslim Imam in the far corner and a man praying aloud a Muslim prayer near the door,” Ascol said on X. “I looked through the door, bags in hand, processing the fact that what the travelers in DFW were invited to was, in fact, Muslim prayers. When the man finished his audible prayer, I tried to enter the room to observe. He quickly came and blocked my entrance as the Imam started speaking about the prophet Mohammed. He said there was a chair in the back for me, but that I must take off my shoes.”
Ascol’s Experience
Ascol said he attempted to move toward the door again but the man stood in his way, “making it clear that this prayer service was only for certain kinds of people, namely Muslims.” He said in his statement he could not grant media requests for personal reasons and that he would not comment on the incident any further in the near future.
Roy’s Demands
“According to his (Ascol’s) account, he was denied access to the chapel and seemingly barred from practicing his faith,” the letter said. “This incident raises serious questions about the management of DFW’s chapels, which are designed as interfaith spaces open 24/7 to all travelers. To deny Christians’ entry into a public chapel in one of America’s largest airports undermines the stated mission of the chaplaincy.” Roy listed three demands in his letter:
- That DFW provide a scheduled list of services currently offered at the airport’s interfaith chapels, including frequency, duration and faith affiliations for each
- That DFW provide the rationale and decision-making process regarding how chapel access policies are approved, including who authorizes them and the reason provided for limiting entry during services
- That DFW Airport commit to practices that allow people of any faith to access chapels, even during scheduled services
Reaction from DFW Airport
“Taxpayers deserve complete transparency regarding the policies related to the chapels at DFW International Airport and whether their dollars are subsidizing exclusion,” said Roy, who is running to replace Ken Paxton as Texas attorney general. The Rev. Greg McBrayer, executive director of DFW’s Interfaith Chaplaincy, said in a message on the chaplaincy’s website that the it was “made aware of a disheartening claim posted on social media that a traveler was allegedly denied entry, or felt unwelcome, during a Muslim prayer service held in one of our airport chapels.”
DFW’s Interfaith Chaplaincy Response
“We take that claim seriously, as we have upheld a tradition for 50 years of serving all who need a shared, respectful space for prayer or quiet reflection,” said McBrayer, who is also chief flight controller for Fort Worth-based American Airlines. “We immediately investigated these claims with our Muslim cleric, who is our longest standing chaplain and a person who upholds our shared values of inclusive, shared spaces. Our cleric was shocked and saddened at this claim.” McBrayer said the cleric did not become aware of the incident until after the post was made online.
Services Offered by DFW Airport
“We offer weekly Protestant services, Chapel Mass and Juma prayer services for anyone working at or traveling through DFW,” said McBrayer. “These services are always led by our chaplains, are brief, and all inclusive. We want our airport community to know that we are shaken by this incident, which would run counter to our core mission, values and beliefs that all are welcome in our spaces.” DFW Airport has five chapels, one located in each terminal. The airport is the central hub of American Airlines.
Conclusion
The incident at DFW International Airport raises serious questions about the management of the airport’s interfaith chapels and the policies in place to ensure that all travelers, regardless of their faith, can access these spaces. The demands made by Rep. Chip Roy are reasonable and necessary to ensure that the airport is providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all travelers. The response from DFW’s Interfaith Chaplaincy is a positive step, but more needs to be done to address the concerns raised by this incident.
FAQs
Q: What happened at DFW International Airport?
A: A Florida-based pastor, Tom Ascol, was denied access to an interfaith chapel at DFW International Airport during a Muslim prayer service.
Q: Who is Tom Ascol?
A: Tom Ascol is the senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Fla.
Q: What did Rep. Chip Roy demand from DFW Airport?
A: Rep. Chip Roy demanded that DFW Airport provide a scheduled list of services, the rationale and decision-making process regarding chapel access policies, and commit to practices that allow people of any faith to access chapels.
Q: How did DFW’s Interfaith Chaplaincy respond to the incident?
A: DFW’s Interfaith Chaplaincy took the claim seriously, investigated the incident, and stated that they uphold a tradition of serving all who need a shared, respectful space for prayer or quiet reflection.
Q: What services does DFW Airport offer?
A: DFW Airport offers weekly Protestant services, Chapel Mass, and Juma prayer services for anyone working at or traveling through DFW.
