Dante isn't just a "medieval classic" and "monument of Italian culture" - it is probably THE ONLY Italian work that is regularly studied worldwide and perhaps one of the greatest works of world literature ever produced in any language. Taking Dante off the curriculum would be like removing Shakespeare in English-speaking countries, or Tolstoy from Russia, or Flaubert from France.

Furthermore, the most interesting thing is that both you and Legolas talk about racism and/or xenophobia, but there really isn't much (IF ANY) of that in The Divine Comedy. There is a strong condemnation of Islam, but there's certainly nothing wrong with a Christian stating a traditional Christian position that non-believers would end up in Hell. Many Christians hold that opinion even today, and it's a valid position to take. It is improper to use that as a basis to attack people or their places of worship, or treat them as second-class citizens, but lots of people are able to treat others decently even if they think they're going to Hell.

With respect to Jews, there is really no anti-Semitism that I can see in the entirety of the Divine Comedy. Three figures are punished - Caiaphas, Annas and Judas, all of which had a personal role in condemning Christ to death. It's really insignificant when we look at the hundreds of Italian figures from politics and social life in Dante's day and the centuries preceding.

With respect to homosexuals, as I have mentioned before, even though they are being punished in accordance with Church teachings, many scholars have noted that there is a strong sympathy on the part of Dante for the homosexuals that comes across in his description of that portion of Hell. Also, once again, many Christians still believe that homosexual acts are a grave sin and that those who engage in them are going to Hell.

Fundamentally, tolerance merely means that we do not persecute others. It doesn't require us to accept as valid all aspects of other peoples' lives. In other words, nothing in the Divine Comedy with respect to any of these groups is out of touch with modern values at least for a significant number of people.

The ultimate problem that I have with this group is not that I share most of the opinions (I think Muslims are wrong and Islam is a false religion, but I do not think they are going to Hell, and I don't think gays are going to Hell either), but because they are using the Divine Comedy to attack anything Christian, and essentially they are attacking a world classic due to its subject matter. As others have pointed out, are we next going to attack the Iliad for its portrayal of pagan gods or its violence?