Seattle University ("Catholic") and the HHS

[Moore11]

su-spectator.com/news/faculty-insured-for-birth-control-1.2782528#.T4mZiKv2Z2A

My favorite quote

“We know that students are having sex and PHAT views sex as something that has the ability to be a really positive experience … as long as you’re protecting yourself against health risks. In terms of physical health risks, that’s where contraception comes in,” said Halter.

It isn’t so much surprising that this is their policy but rather the entire tone of the article being so dismissive of Church theology.

When will people (parents) stand up and realize that you do not do your child any favors by sending them to a CINO school.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

What you quoted is not the University’s policy, its one member of the Peer Health Action Team. The PHAT is a student volunteer organization. The sentence prior to the one you quoted shows that the students of PHAT do not always agree with the University:

PHAT member Caroline Halter believes that PHAT takes a different stance on contraception than the university.

 

[Moore11]

That is true but the PHAT is the one that is allowed and funded by the university to have these policies. What did you think of the tone of the article?

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

That is true but the PHAT is the one that is allowed and funded by the university to have these policies.

What policies? I’m not sure exactly what you’re referring to. What you quoted was one volunteer’s opinion which explicitly said she was at odds with the university. The article even mentions that the group was forced to take down certain links from their website because they were contrary to Catholic teaching.

What did you think of the tone of the article?

I didn’t really get any tone from the article. It seemed to me to be a pretty straight story about the issue.

 

[Moore11]

I didnt think I would have to walk through this but here goes.
paragraphs like this are prevalent in the article.

Seattle U’s contraceptive coverage for employees is in compliance with Washington state law, meaning the university’s current insurance plan already covers birth control. Compensation and Benefits Director Matt Philip said that Seattle U will begin to examine the overlap between current state requirements and new federal requirements within the next few months. It is during this time that Seattle U will determine if the Affordable Care Act will result in changes to the current plan. Any necessary changes will be implemented on Jan. 1, 2013.

The author goes to great length to assure that “dont worry we are compliant with Washinton State law” But doesnt really address moral or Church law.

and

The law includes exemptions for many religious institutions. Approximately 335,000 churches are exempt from the new rules, according to a Planned Parenthood representative. Medical abortion pills like RU-846 and other abortive drugs are not included in the coverage and no individual will be forced to prescribe or pursue contraception if doing so violates his or her beliefs.

Notice the source. Planned parenthood. laughable.

My favorite.

Many religious groups, as well as the GOP, still do not support the measure, but Kristen Glunberg-Prossor, media relations director at Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, believes that the changes were a suitable compromise.
“The rule that was agreed upon last week puts providing the birth control on the insurance company and it keeps it out of the Catholic institutions … so they don’t have to offer it, but they can make it available to their employees,” said Glunberg-Prossor.
Given Seattle U’s religious affiliation, birth control has always been a touchy subject. The Peer Health Action Team (PHAT) used to list birth control providers like Planned Parenthood on its website, but the university recently required the group to remove those references as they were against Catholic teachings.

many religious groups??? You mean like the CATHOLIC Church? Again with the planned parenthood source along with PHAT being presented as the leading school authority on this.
this article is a little old but we know now that it isnt the case with the so called “compromise” that was offered. Again, PP says we should accept the awesome compromise, where is the Church’s voice in this “Catholic” school’s newspaper?

You honestly don’t see the agenda or bias?

 

[Moore11]

Here is PHAT’s webpage.
seattleu.edu/healthpromotion/inner.aspx?id=18894

Looks like they are the Universitiy’s authority on Health issues including sexual issues in the Dorms.
Not to mention their referrals to the “Go ask Alice” website. A site that is downright scary.
yet this is their go to site for any and all sexual questions.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

The author goes to great length to assure that “dont worry we are compliant with Washinton State law” But doesnt really address moral or Church law.

Its a student article about the HHS mandate and the university, so its focus is naturally going to be on the legal issues.

Again, PP says we should accept the awesome compromise, where is the Church’s voice in this “Catholic” school’s newspaper?

Its a student newspaper. And according to the “about” link the paper is fairly independent: “The Spectator maintains editorial independence. Content is created and edited by students without prior review by sources or university officials. Opinions in The Spectator are those of the authors and not Seattle University.”

You honestly don’t see the agenda or bias?

Seems pretty straight forward to me.

 

[Moore11]

Its a student article about the HHS mandate and the university, so its focus is naturally going to be on the legal issues.

Its a student newspaper. And according to the “about” link the paper is fairly independent: “The Spectator maintains editorial independence. Content is created and edited by students without prior review by sources or university officials. Opinions in The Spectator are those of the authors and not Seattle University.”

Seems pretty straight forward to me.

I’m open to the possibility that I am seeing enemies where there are none, but the lack of Church citations and the abundance of PP citations are concerning. As an embarrassed alum of SU I can tell you they are not “Catholic” and are no friend of the Church on campus.
I was immensely disappointed with the “Jesuit” education there and I would think Jesuits would be as well. It is a common problem these days and no surprise coming from Seattle, but it is concerning nonetheless.