Georgetown University is facing intense scrutiny from conservative Catholic groups after announcing the expansion of its Gender and Women's Studies program to include courses on transgender identity, queer theology, and feminist interpretations of Scripture.
The controversy erupted when the university's course catalog for the spring semester revealed new offerings such as "Transgender Lives and Catholic Social Teaching" and "Reimagining Mary: Feminist Approaches to Mariology." Conservative alumni and donors have threatened to withdraw support, while progressive faculty members defend the curriculum as necessary for modern Catholic education.
We're trying to prepare students for the real world, not shield them from difficult conversations. These courses examine how Catholic social teaching applies to contemporary issues affecting real people in our communities.
The backlash has been swift and vocal. The Cardinal Newman Society, a conservative Catholic education watchdog, issued a statement calling the new courses "incompatible with Catholic identity" and urging the university to reconsider its direction.
"Georgetown is abandoning its Catholic mission in favor of secular ideologies that contradict Church teaching," said Patrick Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society. "Catholic universities should be forming students in the faith, not undermining it."
Several major donors have already suspended their contributions to the university. Robert McKenna, a 1978 alumnus who has donated over $2 million to Georgetown, announced he would redirect his giving to "institutions that remain faithful to Catholic principles."
However, the university has also received support from progressive Catholic organizations and many current students. The Georgetown chapter of DignityUSA, a group advocating for LGBTQ+ Catholics, praised the curriculum expansion as "long overdue."
"These courses will help students understand how to minister to all of God's children with compassion and understanding," said senior theology major Maria Rodriguez, who plans to enroll in the transgender studies course.
The controversy has highlighted broader tensions within Catholic higher education about academic freedom and religious identity. Georgetown, founded by Jesuits in 1789, has long struggled to balance its Catholic heritage with its commitment to intellectual inquiry.
University President John DeGioia defended the new courses in a letter to the campus community, arguing that they reflect the Jesuit tradition of engaging with complex social issues. "Our mission calls us to seek truth through rigorous academic inquiry, even when that inquiry challenges us," he wrote.
The debate has attracted attention from Church hierarchy, with Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C., calling for "thoughtful dialogue" about the role of Catholic universities in contemporary society. However, he stopped short of condemning the new curriculum.
Faculty members are divided on the issue. Professor of Theology Dr. Michael Hayes expressed concern that the new courses might "confuse students about authentic Catholic teaching," while Philosophy Professor Dr. Sarah Chen argued that "intellectual honesty requires us to examine all perspectives."
The controversy comes at a time when Catholic universities across the country are grappling with similar challenges. Notre Dame, Boston College, and Fordham have all faced criticism for various academic and policy decisions that conservative groups view as departures from Catholic identity.
Student reaction has been mixed, with some expressing excitement about the expanded curriculum while others worry about the university's Catholic character. "I came to Georgetown because it was a Catholic school," said sophomore business major James O'Connor. "I'm concerned we're losing what makes us distinctive."
The university has scheduled a series of town halls to discuss the controversy, and the Board of Directors is expected to address the issue at its next meeting. Meanwhile, enrollment for the controversial courses remains strong, with several already at capacity.
As the debate continues, Georgetown finds itself at the center of a larger conversation about the future of Catholic higher education in an increasingly diverse and secular society.