Too often, Georgetown’s struggle to balance its Catholic identity with the goals of a liberal academic institution end with the University shrinking in the face of Church pressure. The Law Center took an admirable step forward this fall by reversing its policy of denying funding for summer internships at organizations whose missions conflict with Catholic teachings, especially pro-choice groups. In the face of recent opposition from religious groups, the Law Center must stand its ground and continue to fund students’ academic pursuits, even when they contradict Catholic doctrine.
Last March, the Law School’s Equal Justice Foundation summer fellowship program denied a student funding to do legal work for Planned Parenthood, prompting petitions and protests from many members of the Law Center community. Earlier this month, Law Dean Alexander Aleinikoff commendably announced that the mission of an organization will no longer be evaluated when determining internship grants.
“In partnership with EJF, the Law Center will provide grants to all students who work on law-related issues at a public interest organization or government agency in the summer following their first or second years,” Aleinikoff wrote in a letter on Sept 7.
The Law Center was right to revise its policy and should make the change permanent. Unfortunately, some law students, along with national Catholic and pro-life groups, are already working to undo the policy revision.
Daniel Hughes (LAW ’08), President of the Law Center’s Progressive Alliance for Life, is confident that the changes will be defeated. He cited the 1992 revocation of funding for H*yas for Choice and the pressure put on Father Robert Drinan for urging a veto of the 1997 partial-birth abortion ban as precedent.
“I and other similarly minded students are working with the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Wuerl and the Maryland Province of Jesuits to see that this policy is reversed,” Hughes said. “Repeatedly in the past, the Archbishop and the Vatican have stepped in.”
Fortunately, “no further changes are under consideration,” according to Associate Law Dean Deborah Epstein. Preserving Georgetown’s Jesuit identity is important, but should not prevent students from gaining valuable experience and working for causes that promote their own intellectual and ethical values. Regardless of any pressure the Church applies, the Law School should be proud of and preserve its decision.
