No one has the right to discriminate against women & children this way. especially a religious institution that professes respect for life. This is highly disrespectful towards *both* lives.

So far, any academic institution has the right to decide which students they receive and which ones they don’t. For example, male only (or female only) schools exclude the other gender from education in their institution, and although it could be considered segregation and discrimination, they continue to do so, allegedly to benefit their target group. It is so common, it is accepted.

What is the difference then? That we seem to believe it to be OK to refuse entry to a woman in an all-male school as long as there is an alternative nearby with similar education level. Also that there is no stigma attached to not being admitted at an all-male school if you are a girl, or vice-versa. However, I believe that the Academic Freedom wouldn’t hold if the only school in a village or community were an all male or all female school.

When schools establish their code of conduct, they can include behaviors which would result in being expelled: stealing, cheating, violence, and others. To me, this would be their academic freedom. These rules would affect both males and females in the institutions. However, being expelled due to pregnancy, would only affect the female, and would be considered discrimination. I think that this is when Academic Freedom has to bow down to constitutional rights.

Being expelled due to pregnancy would stigmatize the student when other academic options are considered. If expelled in the middle of the semester, what options would a student have to enroll in another program in another school? A few months would make all the difference if she would be able to finish her education before having the baby.

If an unwed female asked for admittance in a Catholic School, would she be accepted? What would happen to a girl who was expelled from a school on account of being pregnant, would she be able to find alternative means of education? Or would being expelled from a school because she is pregnant mean she would be outside of the educational system? What about when the baby is born, would she be allowed then to enroll in an educational institution?

I think that academic freedom is an option to institutions when students have other means of receiving an education. However, when their decision would mean that the student would be left outside of the system, I think that’s when other rights override that freedom.

unfortunately, the State can’t dictate what religious orders do with their schools. (and we can bet that those schools WILL fight back!) even if it’s against Christian values… well, honestly, there’s so much that religious people do that’s clearly against Christian values that i just wouldn’t be surprised anymore. :p (i suppose you heard of the strong-arm tactics they used against the QC councilors who finally instituted RH rights a while ago. :p)

But I dunno, would this academic freedom mean or at least, give permission for such schools to violate children’s right to education and single mothers’ right to livelihood? If so, then this is totally alienating and as said, very much contrary to Christian values.

please allow me to play devil’s advocate (as i am personally an almost-rabid advocate of reproductive health and rights and argue “academic freedom.” it’s a virtually arbitrary and much abused term, but in a court of law here–where these unhappy disputes often end up, because disputants will rarely just compromise on controversial matters like this–academic freedom will likely be treated as inviolate. unlike women’s rights to equality (of opportunity and others), academic freedom is a right enshrined in our Constitution that our courts uphold more often than not. it encompasses the right of a school (quite independent of the actual quality of their education, hehehe) to choose “who shall teach, whom to teach, what and how to teach.” so that necessarily includes the power to hire and fire teachers and to refuse or grant admission to students. there are guidelines–e.g. procedures must be followed, they must have broken some kind of established rule of conduct–but the guidelines themselves can be just about anything. this is whether or not a school is run by religious.

that said, i think–unless we are going to argue for government intervention in religious-run schools, which would be an interesting and exciting arena for debate in itself–there should instead by more non-sectarian schools put up in the philippines, where supposed religious/moral dogma doesn’t unfairly shape school policies. there are almost none of these in the private sector. (and those that do exist, e.g. public schools, are sometimes run by religious-minded people anyway, who also discriminate.) at the moment, it falls to joyce’s and my generation, and perhaps two or three of the generations before us, to put up these schools.

at the moment, i have to admit that i don’t see a viable, realistic, universal argument that could “force” religious-run schools to admit, say, unmarried pregnant students. but i would fully and loudly support those religious-run schools who don’t allow faith to excuse bigotry and still accord these students the same privileges and rights as all their other students.

SMA, You make an interesting point: prevention should also be a focus of the Catholic organizations, not just the consequences.

Joyce, thank you for telling us more about your experience, I am glad that you were fortunate and could finish studying. You also add an aditional detail: if a Catholic institution expells an unwed pregnant student or employee, that would certainly have a negative impact on her faith. However, if they, like Rachel Barawid mentions, support the student it would strengthen her faith, which should be the main objective of a Catholic organization.

I was actually studying in a Catholic university when I got pregnant. I remember telling my Theology professor that I cannot join our immersion in an informal settlement because I was afraid that it might not be good for my baby. I had no qualms about telling her. In fact, it just took me about five minutes to state my case and get her permission.

I also agree with Rachel Barawid. If I was expelled because I was pregnant, it would have been very hard for me now. Thankfully, I got to graduate on time and my college education has so far helped me in my professional progress. (My ability to provide for my child’s needs follows.) I may have sinned but I was only able to fully appreciate the Church’s teachings because of the kindness and fairness of parents, employers, teachers and other individuals.

More power to your blog!

Some of the concerns i had were already raised, what about the fathers? it seems everywhere in the world, the father gets away with this, the problem is mostly faced by the woman, but it takes two to tango.

In my opinion, i think the Catholic Church shouldnt have the right to fire or expel unmarried women who are pregnant, with what is going on in the world today we cant ignore sexuality any longer, i think its high time that they include sex education in their curriculum, if it can be prevented why not start with that.

I also agree with causing greater harm to these women by denying them an education/job, then it becomes this vicious cycle. I think we need to step out of this morality thing and look at things from a more holistic point of view, i dont think someone should spend their whole life paying for a mistake ( that’s if the pregnancy was unwanted).

Also the question of abortion, are they not then indirectly promoting abortion? at least if the fetus gets aborted without people’s knowledge then the girl’s education and job is still secured.