The University of San Francisco (USF), a Catholic college, features on the front page of its website a festival that includes at least two films that promote abortion and same sex marriage, and a report by four USF nursing students that includes recommendations for contraceptive use.

The 2007 Human Rights Film Festival (March 19th – 21st) is sponsored by USF's Office of the Provost, College of Arts & Sciences, Gender & Sexuality Department, University Ministry, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Caucus among others.

One of the films presented, "Rosita," tells the story of a nine year old Nicaraguan girl who becomes pregnant after being raped. The girl's parents are determined to obtain an abortion for her, even though abortion is illegal in their country. According to the description of the movie, "[the] parents move forward only to be forced into battle with two governments, the medical establishment, and the hierarchy of the Catholic Church."

"One Wedding and a Revolution" is a sympathetic look at San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's 2004 decision to grant "marriage" licenses to same sex couples. The film is billed as containing "historic footage of the tearful exchange of vows between long-time lesbian activists."

Meanwhile, USF touts "as an impressive example of students assisting the community" a birth spacing study by four nursing students which was adopted by the Contra Costa Department of Public Health. Unfortunately, the study promotes contraceptives.

"If there is a legitimate need for some mothers in Contra Costa County to delay subsequent pregnancies, Catholic teaching on marriage, chastity and natural family planning would have provided the nursing students with an opportunity to promote authentic, Catholic solutions," said Patrick Reilly, President of the Cardinal Newman Society.

"As a Catholic institution, if the University of San Francisco will not support the Catholic position on issues, at the very least it has an obligation to not promote issues that directly contradict Catholic teachings on some of the most pressing moral issues of the day.

"The Church is very clear that abortion is intrinsically evil, that marriage can only be between one man and one woman, and that contraception use is a sin. It is a scandal that USF, an institution that is not shy about touting its Jesuit heritage in marketing materials, would actively work against these fundamental Catholic truths."

USF President Rev. Stephen A. Privett, S.J., may be reached at (415) 422-6762 or by e-mail at privet@usfca.edu.

The Cardinal Newman Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to renewing and strengthening the Catholic identity of America's Catholic colleges and universities. Its Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College will be released in October.