Why Did a Catholic University Encourage Students to Volunteer at Planned Parenthood and NARAL?

State   |   Sarah Zagorski   |   Dec 12, 2014   |   12:20PM   |   St. Paul, MN

According to the University of St. Thomas website, their mission as a university is “inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition to educate students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good.” The Minnesota based Catholic college also lists a few of their convictions, which these include dignity and the pursuit of truth.

However, recently their Biology Department posted volunteer opportunities on their website and under “sexual health” they listed Planned Parenthood and NARAL pro-choice America. Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion business in the nation, performing one-third of U.S. abortions. Additionally, their scandalous history of promoting eugenics (the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics) should cause some room for concerned. This organization dismembers unborn babies every single day, with no conviction; and NARAL supports abortion-on-demand with no apology.

universityofstthomasThankfully, the University recently removed Planned Parenthood and NARAL from the Biology Apartment’s website.

So why would a Catholic university that is supposed to adhere to Catholic teaching and tradition reject one of their most sacred values by supporting pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood?

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The Catechism of the Catholic church reads ”Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law… Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae, ‘by the very commission of the offense.”

Although pro-abortion Catholics like to argue that their teaching has “progressed” and is more accepting of abortion, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, in 2013, Pope Francis reiterated that the Catholic Church will never compromise on their opposition against abortion. He said, “I want to be completely honest in this regard. This is not something subject to alleged reforms or ‘modernizations’. It is not “progressive” to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life.”

It would be good for the University of St. Thomas to listen to the words of Pope Francis and remember that by supporting Planned Parenthood, they are supporting more abortion. They should also consider what one Archbishop in Louisiana said about Catholics who are affiliated with with Planned Parenthood, “There is no justification, including economic hardship that will make a direct or indirect relationship with Planned Parenthood or any abortion provider, acceptable. Additionally, affiliation or support of Planned Parenthood by Catholics is a matter of serious scandal.”