However, as an intellectual institution, Georgetown needs to be a place where intelligent debates on topics of moral importance and value, such as abortion, occurs. Those opposing the university s official, Catholic position owe it to themselves and to the community to utilize other forums to provide the opposing argument. The Georgetown community needs to hear tasteful and fact-based information from the other perspective. The voices of groups whose ideas agree with those of the Roman Catholic Church should not be the only voices that we, as a community dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and truth, hear. Part of being not only a Catholic, but also a Jesuit institution means recognizing the good in each person and each idea.
Pluralism is vital to keeping our community s intellectual life healthy.
Just as the university respects the practice of other religions on campus, it also needs to also respect the intellectual livelihood of its students. Our identity as a Catholic university should not quell debate but encourage it. There is often debate about whether we are Catholic first or a university first. The answer is we can be both. The two ideas are not conflicting, but complementary.