INDIA’S NOTRE DAME – This week, a Catholic women’s school reversed its non-discrimination, trans-inclusive admissions policy for academic applicants “whose sex is feminine or who consistently live and identify as women.”
President Katie Conboy stated in “an email sent to faculty, staff, and students Tuesday night” that the College is also deciding the practices that may follow from the policy. The Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame scholar newspaper, The Observer, had reported the Board of Trustees had approved the change on June 23. Trans candidates will start being considered for admissions in the fall of 2024.
Republicans, including kids, some university, donors, and Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, responded negatively to the email’s release.
Bishop Rhoades of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese claims he wasn’t consulted on the shift in admissions policy, according to WSBT-TV South Bend, which is affiliated with CBS and Fox.
Rhoades told WSBT, “It is disheartening that I, as bishop of the diocese in which Saint Mary’s College is located, was not involved or consulted on a matter of critical Catholic teaching.” Additionally, he urged the university to reconsider accepting academic aspirants who are transgender women.
The Saint Mary’s College Board of Trustees overturned their decision on Thursday, December 21, and in a letter to Bishop Rhoades, individuals, faculty, and donors noted:
Dear Community of Saint Mary’s College,
The Saint Mary’s College Board of Trustees met earlier this week to explore the effects of our recent decision to revise our anti-discrimination policy. The Board considered the perception of division we have felt since this decision was made in our school community and among our extended alumnae family. Our hearts and minds have been troubled by this. Some voices have been speaking to us from a variety of locations and viewpoints. Each of you has been heard after careful listening on our part.
We saw this update as a representation of our College’s commitment to uphold our Catholic values as an empathetic and inclusive community when the Board approved it. We thought it confirmed our status as a women’s college that is diverse, Catholic, and inclusive. But, it is becoming more and more obvious that not all members of our community agree with the stance we took. Some people were concerned that this was more than just a matter of policy; they believed it was compromising our mission or perhaps endangering our Catholic identity. Furthermore, it is clear that we underestimated our society’s sincere desire to participate in the development of such a significant policy. We lost women’s confidence over the course of this past month, and where we had hoped for unity, we unknowingly caused division. We sincerely apologize for this.
The Board has decided that we will go back to our past admissions policy after taking all of these factors into account.
Although this has been a difficult time for our community, we think the College can continue balancing the challenge of upholding our Catholic values in an evolving society. However, we also think that the College must act in this way as a community. When we disagree, we can work to keep our relationships strong. At its base, this is what it means to currently be a part of an active Catholic school. Regardless of our differences, we have all chosen Saint Mary’s. Our only prospect is a shared one in which we travel together and interact with one another more humbly and with less certainty. The future we are aiming for is this.
And our journey toward equality, participation, and justice has a profound impact on this future. The Board and Administration are devoted to providing everyone with a warm and secure environment. To this end, starting in January, we’ll launch a series of listening sessions for our extended family to learn about what it means to support Catholic women’s colleges. These sessions will
take place both on campus and online. We’ll keep trying to figure out how a college like ours can transform into an authentic home—a place of welcome and open arms where everyone, with all of their differences alive, belongs.
We acknowledge that the past few months have been difficult for students, faculty, staff, and alumni for a variety of reasons, including personal pain. Our sincere hope is that everyone will return in January determined to reestablish trust and create a college that recognizes the importance of healthy disagreement. This is a defining issue of our day for all colleges and universities.
In closing, we may recall the tenacity of the Magi during this time of solstice, which is marked by darkness and a desire for the Light of this World. They left without knowing where they were going or what their journey would lead to. They followed a star to Bethlehem where they learned what they were there for. And they had changed by the time they got home. They realized they hadn’t just taken an old street back home. They needed to discover a fresh path forward that may change the significance of their return.
As we look forward to our own return, let’s continue traveling together toward becoming a community that is Gospel-inspired, common good-oriented, and respectful of dignity.
Katie Conboy, president of Saint Mary, and Maureen Karantz Smith, head of the board of trustees, both signed the letter.
Some people WSBT 22 spoke with expressed their satisfaction at the decision’s reversal.
One former student claims that after learning of the initial policy change, she stopped donating to the school and won’t continue to do so until she is certain the policy reversal is final.
