By Grace Shoemaker, The College Fix
At least seven of the 27 Catholic universities in the
United States cover “gender-affirming treatment” in their student health plans,
according to an analysis by The College Fix.
The coverage of these drugs and surgeries, which can
include the permanent sterilization of fertility, is at odds with the teachings
of the Catholic Church.
Some universities do not offer student health plans, while others did not list
the details of their insurance, so it is possible more campuses do pay for
transgender drugs or surgeries.
“Gender-affirming treatment” as referenced in many health
insurance policies, is a practice that supports transgenderism, the process of
someone attempting to present themselves as the opposite sex by means of
surgical or hormonal interventions.
Fordham University, for example, covers “[m]edically
necessary surgical, hormone replacement therapy, and counseling,” according to
the benefits summary document of
a health insurance plan provided by Aetna. It also covers “elective abortions,”
despite the Catholic Church’s stance against the killing of preborn babies.
The Fix emailed media
representatives Jane Martinez and Bob Howe and the general press email on
September 6 to ask for comment on the university’s coverage of procedures that
contradict the Catholic Church but did not receive a response.
Boston College covers “breast reduction, breast
augmentation, breast implants or breast prosthetic devices” only for the
purposes of “gender affirming or gender dysphoria treatment,” according to
an insurance certificate from
Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare.
The Fix also sent an inquiry to
the Archdiocese of Boston regarding the health insurance policies of Boston
College, to which no response was received.
The Fix emailed media
representatives Ed Hayward and Jack Dunn on September 6 to ask for comment on
how the policy squares with the Catholic Church’s teaching as well as if the
university believes someone can become the opposite sex. Neither responded.
A student health insurance plan of
Saint Louis University covers “surgical, hormone replacement therapy, and
counseling treatment” for “gender-affirming treatment” as does a plan by
the University of Detroit Mercy. Neither university responded to a
September 6 email seeking comment.
University of San Francisco’s student health plan has
the same coverage. Fairfield College covers a
“gender transition benefit,” without further details.
The College Fix emailed
Fairfield’s media relations team members Jennifer Anderson and Susan Cipollaro
on September 12 to for more information on the “gender transition benefit” but
did not receive a response. Nor did University of San Francisco’s media
representative Kellie Samson respond to an email on September 12 that asked for
more information on why the school covered transgender drugs and surgeries.
The Fix reached out to the
Archdiocese of San Francisco and inquired about whether the diocese has spoken
to the school administration regarding its policy on gender affirming care. The
archdiocese responded saying that “the University of San Francisco is not
affiliated with the Archdiocese of San Francisco” and directed all questions to
the university.
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