The University of San Diego (USD), a Catholic institution in California, is facing scrutiny for continuing to cover abortion in its campus health plan, despite the Catholic Church’s stance against it. USD claims that state laws mandate the coverage of abortion and other services, such as “gender affirming treatment.” However, recent court rulings have determined that California cannot force churches to fund abortions, raising questions about why USD is maintaining this coverage.
In May, federal courts ruled that the abortion-coverage mandate in California violated the First Amendment rights of two churches that challenged the rule. The courts affirmed that churches do not have to pay for abortions. However, USD has not acknowledged or addressed these court rulings. USD’s Senior Director of Media Relations, Lissette Martinez, stated that the health plan must comply with state and federal regulations and cover the required services, but did not specifically mention the court rulings.
The Catholic Church’s teachings firmly oppose abortion under any circumstances. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that human life must be respected, protected, and recognized as having the rights of a person from the moment of conception. Direct abortion is considered gravely contrary to the moral law.
Despite some Catholic politicians and institutions diverging from these teachings, the Church’s position remains steadfast. Cardinal Robert McElroy, who oversees the diocese in which USD is located, has not publicly commented on the issue.
The University of San Diego cannot continue to support the murder of unborn children and claim to be a Catholic university. It is disengenuous and evil for any institution to create scandal by claiming to represent the values of the Catholic Church and at the same time supporting evils such as abortion.