(ZENIT News / Washington, 09.16.2024).- As a growing number of Christian universities continue their associations with Planned Parenthood, a prominent pro-life organization is celebrating the decision by more than a dozen schools to sever ties with the nation’s largest abortion provider and distributor of cross-sex hormones. The Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement, a project of Students for Life of America, recently released findings from its 2024 Christian Schools Project, highlighting these developments.
The 2024 report, based on research conducted during the 2023-2024 academic year, shows that the pro-life movement has been steadily pushing Christian schools to reconsider their relationships with Planned Parenthood. According to the report, 87 Christian universities and colleges were identified as having ties to Planned Parenthood, sparking outreach efforts from the pro-life group.
A significant revelation of the report was the 10% annual increase in support for Planned Parenthood from Christian institutions since 2022. Additionally, the Demetree Institute found that the staffing of some Christian universities includes faculty members with connections to the abortion industry, suggesting deeper issues within their hiring practices that may contradict the fundamental values these schools were founded upon.
The report evaluated 732 Christian colleges and universities, assigning each a grade based on the number of «infractions» tied to Planned Parenthood. Schools with no infractions and that also partnered with pro-life pregnancy centers received an «A+», while those without infractions but no pro-life partnerships received an «A.» Institutions with multiple infractions saw their grades decrease accordingly, with the lowest grade, «F», reserved for those with four or more violations.
One of the most encouraging developments in this year’s report was that 12 institutions took decisive action to end their associations with Planned Parenthood, prompting a rise in their scores. Since the beginning of the study in 2021, 54 Planned Parenthood-related ties have been cut. The University of Chaminade in Hawaii, for instance, improved its grade from a «B» to an «A» by removing Planned Parenthood from its health and parenting resources list. Similarly, Felician University in New Jersey saw its rating rise after making a similar move.
Other schools also made notable changes, with North Carolina’s High Point University, Montana’s Rocky Mountain College, and Villanova University in Pennsylvania all seeing their scores increase from a «B» to an «A» by cutting connections to Planned Parenthood. In some cases, these schools removed internships, health resources, or even tributes linked to the abortion provider.
Despite these improvements, some institutions remain at the lower end of the grading scale. For instance, the University of Oklahoma City saw its grade improve from a «C» to a «B» after making adjustments, but it continues to face scrutiny for ongoing associations. Other schools, like Duke University, Muhlenberg College, and Santa Clara University, maintain failing grades despite removing specific Planned Parenthood ties, as they still retain multiple infractions.
On the brighter side, the majority of the 732 Christian institutions examined in the report received top marks, with 58 schools earning an «A+» and 591 receiving an «A.» Schools receiving high praise for their strong pro-life stances include institutions like Arizona Christian University, Benedictine College in Kansas, and The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
However, not all schools fared as well. A total of 83 institutions were given grades of «B» or below, indicating some degree of association with Planned Parenthood. Among those, 24 schools received an «F» due to having four or more infractions, including prominent names like Boston College, Emory University, and Davidson College.
The most common infraction, according to the report, was including Planned Parenthood as a «health resource,» accounting for 41.9% of violations. Other infractions included offering internships at the organization, hosting campus events in support of Planned Parenthood, and providing volunteer opportunities.
While the number of infractions overall has risen by 33% since last year’s Christian Schools Project, there has also been a positive trend: the number of schools earning an «A+» grade has grown by 32%. This suggests that while the challenges persist, many Christian institutions are making concerted efforts to align more closely with pro-life values.
As this conversation continues to unfold within Christian higher education, pro-life advocates remain hopeful that more schools will follow the example of those who have taken action, reaffirming their commitment to the sanctity of life and distancing themselves from organizations like Planned Parenthood.
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