Update on Catholic U of SF's Relationship with Planned Parenthood

The Jesuit-run University of San Francisco (USF) has announced that it has ceased referring abortion-seeking students to the local Planned Parenthood, & will send them to life-supporting pregnancy centers instead. The school will now send students to First Resort, a crisis pregnancy center; the Gabriel Project, a pregnancy support organization run by the USF's St. Ignatius Parish; and Catholic Charities counseling services.

"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."

Last December an investigation by Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) uncovered the fact that the University clinic sent students seeking abortion or contraception either to Planned Parenthood or to Aetna providers. At the time St. Mary's senior director Les McGee told OSV "We just provide them with resources of where they want to go."

While I applaud the fact that USF has adapted its protocol to comply with the Catholic Church's teaching on life, I still am puzzled by the fact that the protocol ever allowed abortion referals or contraceptive services in the 1st place.

Source: Catholic U. of San Francisco Nixes Abortion Referrals