Catholic college launches maternity home to support pregnant students 

An Ohio religious university has announced a new off-campus residence that will house and serve pregnant students.

Franciscan University, in Steubenville, says “Guadalupe House” will offer “practical and pastoral support to young moms” and “extend Franciscan’s commitment to human life from conception to natural death.”

Services offered to residents will include private rooms, diapers, baby clothing, nursery furniture and support from an on-site residence coordinator.

“Knowing past students who could have benefited from a home like this made it clear the university had to come up with a better way to support a student living through an unplanned pregnancy,” Vice President of Student Life Dr. Daniel Dentino said, as reported by American Catholic Tribune.

“Guadalupe House allows us to live our pro-life mission in a very practical way and is another example of how the university can ‘Be Light’ in service to our students, especially those who may be most in need.” 

The house, which previously operated as a home base for Franciscan students and alumni serving as missionaries, was donated to the college by Heather and Doug Perry.  

“It is called the Guadalupe House named after Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the unborn,” Hollieann Geike, a student representative for the Guadalupe House advisory board, told the Lion. 

“It was started because we saw there was a need for it based on how pregnant students have been treated in the past. The university had no policies set for if a student were to become pregnant on campus.”  

Geike went on to share that, given 7 out of 10 women who receive abortions identify as Christians, she realized there were likely students attending her 95%-Catholic university who were having abortions.  

“This home will help students who find themselves in an unexpected pregnancy to find hope and finish their degrees,” Geike explained. 

Franciscan University’s proactive support draws a stark contrast to recent headlines exposing secular universities such as Georgetown for their harsh treatment of pregnant students. 

Georgetown University Law Center (GULC) is facing a firestorm for denying student Brittany Lovely’s request for an accommodation to take a final exam early to avoid conflicting with her child’s due date, the school allegedly telling her, “Motherhood is not for the faint of heart.” 

Lovely and other students petitioned the school regarding her case and ultimately gained national media attention; GULC allowed Lovely to move her exam date only after receiving a request for comment from The Washington Post.