Citing its reputation as a “passionately Christian organization” that observes “objective reality”, the Franciscan University of Steubenville has rejected new modifications to Title IX, allowing “gender identity” to be used as a base for gender discrimination.
The popular Catholic school based in Ohio will maintain using natural sex as the foundation to individual students in , casing, restrooms, locker rooms, and sports teams.
Father Dave Pivonka Vpn, the president of Franciscan University, sent a letter informing individuals that, as a religious institution, the federal government’s affecting of Title IX did not impact the school because it conflicted with Catholic training.
Campus of the Franciscan University of Steubenville. ( Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images )
” We believe in the inherent dignity of every human person”, Pivonka wrote. We adhere to the Catholic Church’s teachings that, as a deeply Catholic institution,” we believe in and respect the principles of sex,” which are based on and determined by a person’s biology and refer to a human person as a man ( male ) or as a woman ( female ).
Father Pivonka also emphasized Franciscan’s Compendium on human sexuality, which reaffirms that sexual identity is based on a person’s biology.
On this campus, “violations of the dignity of a person will not be tolerated,” said Pivonka. ” Presenting authentic Catholic teachings, which convey truth, beauty, liberty, and healing, uplift the human person in every respect. Teaching what the Church instructs is a charity mission for us as a Catholic university.
The statement shields students and employees from punishment for using their “preferred pronouns” to refer to someone. Nor will they face discipline for voicing beliefs consistent with the university’s beliefs that biology, not identity, determines gender.
The Biden administration claims its changes to Title IX were meant to ,” clarify that sex discrimination includes discrimination , on the basis of , sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity”.
Lia Thomas, a swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania, and Riley Gaines, a swimmer from Kentucky, react after placing second and third in the 200-freestyle finals at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on March 18, 2022, at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Georgia. ( Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images )
While religious institutions like Franciscan University can change their policies due to the conflict they bring between their religious beliefs, Biden’s Title IX changes are sure to stoke much more controversy at the public institutions in the two dozen states that have severely restricted male athletes ‘ ability to compete in women’s sports.
