It’s a religious showdown.
Despite many Christian colleges still having connections with Planned Parenthood, a pro-life group is celebrating the actions of over a dozen institutions that have recently addressed these concerns. The Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement, part of Students for Life of America, published its 2024 report detailing their findings on Christian schools’ affiliations with the organization.
The report is based on research conducted throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, involving outreach to 87 Christian colleges and universities linked to Planned Parenthood. The study reveals that support for Planned Parenthood among Christian schools has risen by 10% annually since 2022. The investigation also found that many professors at these institutions had personal connections to the abortion provider, suggesting a disconnect between the schools’ staffing and their foundational values.
Each of the 732 Christian colleges surveyed was given a letter grade based on their association with Planned Parenthood. Schools that had no infractions and were affiliated with a pro-life pregnancy center received an “A+,” while those with no infractions but without such affiliations got an “A.” Grades decreased according to the number of infractions, with schools accumulating four or more infractions receiving an “F.”
Twelve institutions cut ties with Planned Parenthood after being contacted by researchers this year, leading to improved grades for nine of them. Since the study’s inception in 2021, 54 connections to Planned Parenthood have been severed. For instance, Chaminade University and Felician University saw their grades improve from “B” to “A” after removing Planned Parenthood from their resource lists. Similarly, High Point University, Rocky Mountain College, and Villanova University raised their grades by addressing their Planned Parenthood affiliations.
Other universities, like the University of Indianapolis, Moravian University, and Southwestern University, also improved their grades by severing ties with Planned Parenthood, though they still have some infractions remaining. Conversely, schools such as Duke University, Muhlenberg College, and Santa Clara University maintained “F” grades due to multiple infractions despite removing Planned Parenthood from certain roles.
Overall, most of the 732 Christian colleges examined received grades of “A” or higher, with 58 earning “A+” and 591 receiving “A.” Notable institutions with “A+” grades include Arizona Christian University and Liberty University, while those with “A” grades include Baylor University and Georgetown University. However, 83 schools received “B” or lower grades, indicating ongoing ties to Planned Parenthood. Of these, 24 earned “B,” 20 received “C,” and 15 were graded “D.” The 24 schools with “F” grades included institutions like American University and Boston College.
The most common infraction was listing Planned Parenthood as a “health resource,” which made up 41.9% of violations. Other infractions included offering internships, hosting events, making supportive statements, and providing volunteer opportunities. Compared to the previous year, infractions increased by 33%, while the number of schools achieving an “A+” rating rose by 32%.