Newman Guide Colleges Earn A+ Pro-Life Rating
Catholic colleges recommended in The Newman Guide earned high marks for their pro-life efforts in a new study issued by Students for Life of America’s Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement. Newman Guide Recommended colleges are models for how colleges should promote a pro-life culture on campus.
The Demetree’s study reviewed 725 Christian colleges and evaluated their ties to promoting abortion. The results showed that more than 1 in 7 Christian colleges still promote abortion in some way.
The study included seven colleges that are Newman Guide Recommended. All seven colleges earned “A+” ratings for not only having no pro-abortion ties, but also for promoting pro-life pregnancy help centers.
These colleges are:
- Ave Maria University (FL)
- Belmont Abbey College (N.C.)
- Benedictine College in Atchison (KS)
- Franciscan University of Steubenville (OH)
- The Catholic University of America (Washington, D.C.)
- University of Dallas, (TX)
- University of Mary (N.D.)
You don’t have to look hard to find ways that these colleges teach students about the dignity of all human life and actively live out a pro-life mission. For example, several colleges offer innovative housing, childcare and support for pregnant student mothers, including MiraVia at Belmont Abbey College, the Guadalupe House at Franciscan University of Steubenville, and the Saint Teresa of Calcutta Community for Mothers at the University of Mary.
On the other hand, nine Catholic colleges were given an “F” pro-life rating for having four or more ties to abortion. These colleges included:
- Boston College (MA)
- Loyola Marymount University (CA)
- Sacred heart University (CT)
- Santa Clara University (CA)
- Seattle University (WA)
- Catherine University (MN)
- University of Detroit Mercy (MI)
- University of San Diego (CA)
- Villanova University (PA)
At colleges with an “F” listing, ties to abortion are found through internships, job listings, course materials, health resource pages, and more.
For example, at Loyola Marymount, the career and professional development webpage lists employers like Planned Parenthood, Reproductive Freedom for All, and other pro-abortion organizations.
At the University of Detroit Mercy, in the online library for students interested in women and gender studies and reproductive rights, the research guide links to Catholics for Choice, Planned Parenthood, and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Students earning their graduate degree in Marital and Family Therapy at the University of San Diego can choose their practicum setting at UCSD Reproductive Medicine, which connects women with abortion services.
The law schools at Catholic colleges on the “F” listing also have problematic ties to abortion. At the law school graduation at Santa Clara University in 2024, the commencement speaker lamented to the Jesuit-educated law students how we are “losing our reproductive rights.” At Seattle University School of Law, there’s a webpage on reproductive justice advocacy that works to “ensure that all people have access to the best reproductive health and attendant legal services possible,” including in the areas of birth control, abortion, and surrogacy. Boston College’s law school is also reported as hosting various events with ties to abortion, including one with speakers from Planned Parenthood to discuss Reproductive Rights in the Constitution.
For families seeking pro-life education, look to Newman Guide Recommended curriculum providers, schools, colleges, and graduate programs.