It is disappointing — but not surprising — to read that the once-faithful Catholic University of San Diego is continuing to provide 100 percent of the costs related to “voluntary abortion” (see page 15 of the Benefits Summary for the specific coverage) for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in its Aetna Student Health Plan.
More than a decade ago, the University of San Diego made a commitment to supporting “reproductive rights” on its campus through lobbying for abortion rights and encouraging abortion through advocacy organizations like Law Students for Reproductive Justice (now named If, When, How). Collaborating with Catholics for Choice, the USD chapter joined a long list of Catholic law schools producing a new generation of abortion advocates to enable Catholic women to access abortion.
What is much more surprising now is that the University of San Diego School of Law Transgender Name and Gender Marker Change Clinic now provides counseling and legal assistance to those wishing to legally change their name and their gender.
The Transgender Name and Gender Marker Change Clinic serves the needs of transgender and non-binary individuals in California by assisting participants with the process of obtaining name and/or gender-marker changes through the California court system. The Clinic itself exists virtually and is offered on a monthly basis, with pro bono volunteer opportunities for law students and “licensed attorneys. The Clinic also partners with Pride Law and the Tom Homann LGBT Law Association to host events, networking opportunities, and outreach regarding the LGBTQIA+ community at USD and in San Diego. Through our work and community events, we strive to make USD a more inclusive campus. Participants can reach out for appointments at transclinic.sandiego@gmail.com.
Claiming that “The fostering of legal expertise in all aspects of the law is consistent with the educational objectives of the University of San Diego School of Law,” Timothy O’Malley, then the University of San Diego Vice President of University Relations (now retired) justified the pro-abortion advocacy organization on campus in 2013.
Continuing the charade at the University of San Diego in 2023 is Lissette Martinez, Senior Director of Media Relations, who told a reporter at The College Fix that
USD’s employee and student benefit plans are required to align with state and federal regulations…The services mentioned are typically those that are required to be covered, and individuals are encouraged to consult with their medical provider regarding the best treatment for any medical concern.
In addition to abortion and gender affirming care, the “services mentioned” that Martinez refers to include, not surprisingly, 100 percent payment for voluntary sterilizations and vasectomies, as well as all costs related to contraception. What is surprising is that the health coverage provided by the University of San Diego includes all gender affirming care — including 100 percent of the costs of transgender surgery and hormonal care for those students or employees wishing to “change their gender.”
Claiming that the government “requires this,” Martinez did not acknowledge that every court case brought by a Christian college in California disputing this mandate has received a ruling in favor of the religious exemption of the college not to provide medical care that is counter to the Christian mission of the college. In these rulings, the court has ruled that the government cannot force a Church or any other religious employer to violate their faith and conscience by participating in funding abortion. “The government can’t force a church or any other religious employer to violate their faith and conscience by participating in funding abortion….”
From Crisis magazine
What’s wrong with the University of San Diego? It’s Catholic in name only.
People just don’t expect Catholic institutions to be serious about Catholic faith anymore. Not even Catholics expect faithfulness from Catholic institutions and bishops and priests anymore.
Please tell all- How is this possible? How can a Catholic University let alone any Catholic organization or business allow this? Why is no one from the Catholic Diocese not fighting this?
Please explain why the SD Catholic Dioceses are not sickened by this? This is not following God’s true law.
Because Catholicism has largely become a farce. That’s how it’s possible. To be a “Catholic” means you’re part of a Sunday social club, if you bother to attend Mass, that is. It doesn’t mean anything about creed, beliefs, morals, commitments or life choices, except that you support “love” and “goodness” and “justice” in all their vagueness.
But don’t worry… the Eucharistic Revival is going on. Problem solved eventually.
read about the Land O Lakes declaration
it killed Catholic universities after V2 because the faculty wanted to keep up with the “flourishing” of secular and protestant universities
“Once-faithful” feels a bit click-baity to me. I’m of the opinion that USD hasn’t been faithful to Catholic teaching since the the decade following Bishop Buddy’s death. Jane Via, the woman who LARPs as a Catholic bishop in Serra Mesa is a graduate from there. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria was supposedly a major gay activist while he attended school at USD.
I think we need to apply the wisdom of the fictional character “Yoda” from “Star Wars” to the issue of Catholic institutions “trying” to be Catholic while accommodating the secular world and its powers:
“Not try. DO! Or do NOT! There is no “try”.
In other words…BE CATHOLIC or DON’T. There is no “middle ground”!
Because it’s a Democrat school, not a Catholic school.
Pro-life people understand that the world is the way it is. That is why they work to educate people in the sacredness and dignity of human life.
It would be good if the university could find other options but I think it will be difficult.
I looked at what Franciscan does and it uses Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. I don’t know what coverage they have. They mention 2 different options.
People who are really pro-life are looking for opportunities to improve the culture.
They are not monitoring Catholic entities trying to make them look unfaithful on the Internet.
Are you an employee of the fake Catholic USD? Afraid of being monitored? Embarrassed? Ashamed? Does it make your job difficult to have the truth about the university publicized?
No of course not.
And, yet, here you are…
Are you trying to imply that CCD is like that?
From what I can see online, the CA government requires Catholic colleges’ insurance plans to cover abortion as basic health care. In 2014, it informed insurance companies of that.