Jesuit, Catholic University of San Francisco’s (USF) St. Mary’s Medical Center has stopped referring students seeking abortions to Planned Parenthood, Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) reported late last week. However, in direct contradiction with its Catholic identity, USF still continues to offer a health insurance plan to adjunct faculty that covers abortion.

Last December it was revealed that St. Mary’s Medical Center did, in fact, refer students seeking abortion to Planned Parenthood. The Medical Center is now sending students to pro-life crisis pregnancy center First Resort, the Gabriel Project, and Catholic Charities counseling services.

According to the recent statement issued by St. Mary’s Medical Center, “In keeping with Catholic tradition and teachings, voluntary termination of pregnancy will not be performed at St. Mary's Hospital and referrals for abortion will not be given to a student by USF Student Health Clinic staff. In addition, contraceptives services, in all forms, will not be provided by the USF Student Health Clinic."

“The Cardinal Newman Society applauds the University of San Francisco for altering its policy,” said Patrick J. Reilly, president of The Cardinal Newman Society. “It is important to note, however, the imperative for USF to be consistent and now remove the abortion coverage currently available to employees.”

The University of San Francisco currently makes available a Blue Cross health insurance plan to employees which does not include abortion coverage. Another plan, offered to adjunct faculty by USF through Kaiser, includes coverage for abortion.

In a statement, USF spokesman Gary McDonald stated that the Blue Cross plan is “considerably more expensive, and offering this plan would reduce the number of employees USF could cover, which is contrary to our goal of helping provide health care to as many employees as possible.”