LONDON, Ontario – A Canadian university has closed prayer space intended for all faiths to make more room for Muslims.

Sun News reports Western University, located in London, Ontario, created a kerfuffle when it eliminated the multi-faith space.

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“The loss of the prayer room triggered the abrupt resignation of Rev. Michael Bechard, Western’s Roman Catholic chaplain, and four other chaplains from the UWO Chaplains’ Association in protest,” the news channel reports.

“It’s unfortunate. What is important really is that all faiths are accommodated, in such a setting, to a reasonable degree,” Imam Abd Alfatah Twakkal tells the London Free Press.

“I don’t want this to get out of hand where it creates feeling between faith communities.”

Bechard wouldn’t comment on the situation. Janet Loo, Annette Donovan Panchaud, Melissa Page Nichols and Maija Wilson resigned from the chaplains’ association as well.

The controversy caught administrators by surprise.

“Susan Grindrod, the university administrator who oversees the chaplaincy, said the changes came about because University College is being renovated. A Muslim prayer room has operated there for 20 years and demand is growing, she said,” the newspaper reports.

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“We had the best interest of students in mind,” she says.

Rev. Bill Danaher, former dean of theology at Huron College who is now at a church in Michigan, says Muslims have been asking for more space “for years,” but that expansion shouldn’t come at the expense of others.

“What has to be recognized is that space for prayer, reflection and contemplation has to be open to all people. It is not just Muslims that are faithful,” he says, according to Sun News.

“The administration needs to do a better job of listening. They have to revisit this and Chaplain Bechard has done courageous work here. They should have done a space study” to determine the needs of all students, Danaher said.