Villanova U. Unveiled New ‘Gender Inclusive’ Campus Guide

Villanova University, a Pennsylvania Roman Catholic college, recently rolled out a new guideline for faculty and staff on creating a more “gender inclusive” campus and making that “fundamental” to its mission. 

The Gender Inclusive Practices Guide offers strategies for faculty and staff for “being gender inclusive in our work spaces, laboratories and classrooms-especially for those who identify within transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming and/or gender questioning communities,” according to Yahoo News.

Suggestions range from adding a gender inclusion statement in syllabi or new employee orientation materials to reviewing course rosters and employee records for names and pronouns, the outlet reported. 

The guidance garnered criticism from Catholic commentator and Duquesne University theological doctoral student John Monaco. He said it’s “shameful” that Villanova is looking to embrace “every novelty of the progressive left.”

“Note, there is no actual or explicit reference to God, Jesus Christ, or any magisterial/spiritual authorities. The Church encourages sensitivity, compassion, and respect, but never at the sake of suppressing the truth,” Monaco said. “Unfortunately, this is just another episode of a Catholic university nodding along to the zeitgeist.”

He told Fox News Digital that other Catholic universities would head in a similar direction, losing their identity by striving for “public acceptance and elite metrics” with such “gender inclusive guides.” 

“The Catholic Church teaches that all human beings are created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:27). Thus, for the Christian, identity is given, and not created by one’s own will,” he added. 

In response to the criticism, the university said the school “upholds and maintains the Catholic Church’s teaching that all people are accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity.”

“As part of our Augustinian values of Veritas, Unitas, Caritas — Truth, Unity and Love — Villanova seeks to be a welcoming and inclusive community that respects members of all backgrounds and faiths. Calling someone by their name and pronouns is a show of respect for them as a person and fellow Villanovan,” the university said in a statement. 

The university’s guidance comes after Christian grade schools have come under fire for reaffirming Christian teachings and rejecting transgenderism. Other schools have been criticized for stating students must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with their biological sex.