Initial Response from Colleges Insufficient on Student Health Services Information
 

Bishop Joseph F. Martino and Auxiliary Bishop John M. Dougherty have asked the four Catholic institutions of higher learning in the Diocese of Scranton to provide information on their student health services to have assurance that no practice is occurring which would be in violation of Catholic teaching.

The bishops made the request in an April 1 letter to Holy Cross Father Thomas J. O’Hara, president of King’s College in Wilkes-Barre; Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Anne Munley, president of Marywood University in Scranton; Michael A. MacDowell, president of Misericordia University in Dallas; and Jesuit Father Scott R. Pilarz, president of The University of Scranton.

The letter stated: “Will you please send to us any documents available which will indicate policies, procedures or practices authorized by (the institution) for the provision of student health services. In addition, it is especially important that the Diocese have assurance from you that no practice is occurring which would be in violation of Catholic teaching.

“We ask this accounting in accord with the norm of canon 810 §2, C.I.C. The canon notes the duty and right of concerned diocesan bishops to be vigilant that the principles of Catholic doctrines are faithfully observed in Catholic institutions of higher learning.”

In their letter, the bishops explain that their inquiry was prompted by a March 25 article in the student newspaper at St. Joseph University in Philadelphia. The article describes how the university, in its words, finds the “middle ground between Church doctrine and student healthcare.”

In that article, St. Joseph’s director of student health services says that the school’s location offers enough convenience and opportunity to encourage students to purchase condoms. She describes this as a “fortunate” situation for the students. She also discusses the use of oral contraceptives.

The Catholic Church teaches that artificial contraception is immoral.

The St. Joseph’s director states, “It’s always a fine line between staying within the values of the University, which we completely respect, and offering services to the students. We are fortunate that there are other medical centers in the area, and that there are health care providers other than us.”

Bishop Martino and Bishop Dougherty said this position indicates little respect for Catholic moral teaching.

The four local presidents responded on April 6 with a joint letter that said: “Condoms are not available on our campuses and our student health services and centers do not provide oral and other forms of contraceptives. We are, therefore, confident in assuring you that our health centers practice in ways that respect and do not violate Catholic teaching.”

Bishop Martino and Bishop Dougherty, in a subsequent letter faxed to the presidents on April 8, noted that this declaration does not answer their request for “documents available which will indicate policies, procedures or practices authorized by” the institution.

The bishops cited two practical examples for their concern:

A section on Marywood University’s website advises international students to bring contraceptives and condoms to campus.

In an April 5 story in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, a student says the Student Center at King’s College has “Be Safe” pamphlets that tell students about birth-control options.

“We believe (these examples) justify the urgency of our request for documentation,” the bishops wrote.