Pittsburgh Catholic Newspaper - News and Features

News & Features

Homosexual student group approved at Duquesne
archived from: 2005-12-22

After several months of deliberation, Duquesne University announced Dec. 16 that it would allow a campus organization for homosexual students that adhered to the university’s Spiritan mission and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

In making the decision, the university stressed that the Gay Straight Alliance would be subject to oversight to ensure its conformity with church teaching.

While it does not affirm homosexual behavior, the GSA will provide a forum for support for gay and lesbian students and a positive Catholic voice on issues of sexual orientation on the Duquesne campus. Activities that do not adhere to Catholic Church teachings, such as public protests, petitions or other events, will be prohibited.

Duquesne described its decision as in conformity with church teaching on human sexuality, including homosexuality. Though the church condemns homosexual behavior, it affirms the dignity of people with homosexual tendencies.

Homosexuals, the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” teaches, “must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” (2358). Both the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ statement, “Always Our Children,” and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s letter, “The Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons,” have affirmed this teaching.

As a result, the university has stressed that the approval of the GSA is not an endorsement of homosexual activity but rather an effort to help prevent unjust discrimination based on sexual orientation and to provide a safe place for gay, lesbian and bisexual students to receive support without fear of harassment.

According to news reports, both the university’s administration and the student who proposed the organization support the decision and the university’s position.

Because of its controversial nature and Duquesne’s status as a Catholic institution, however, the GSA will not be part of the usual student government structure and will be subject to constraints that make it different from other campus organizations.

Duquesne’s executive director of the Office of Mission and Identity and an adviser selected from the university’s staff will be charged with ensuring that the group’s activities adhere to the approved constitution and church teachings.

In addition, Duquesne President Dr. Charles Dougherty will review the organization’s activities formally every two years and retains authority to revoke official recognition of the group at any time if the group violates the terms and principles of its constitution.

At any time, violation of the provisions concerning fidelity to the church’s teaching will trigger the dissolution of the organization.

Though he was not involved in the decision itself, the university said Bishop Donald Wuerl supported the general direction of the proposal, emphasizing adherence to Catholic teachings on sexuality.

The Congregation of the Holy Spirit, which operates the university, also supported the decision.

Student organizations that support homosexual people but not the homosexual lifestyle are not unprecedented on Catholic college campuses. Approximately 50 Catholic colleges and universities, including Notre Dame, Georgetown and Boston College, currently have similar organizations. Duquesne reviewed their charters during its deliberations.

The church as a whole has also had a long history of supporting homosexual people. Though not related to Duquesne’s organization, the international Catholic organization Courage currently has 95 chapters worldwide that offer encouragement and spiritual support to gays and lesbians who want to live according to church teachings.

E-mail this story