SFLA’s Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement team surveyed EVERY faith-based, 4-year College and University, finding a few winners but a losing trend overall, post-Dobbs

“Especially at Christmas time, it’s disappointing to see so many faith-affiliated institutions fail to teach the students about the irreplaceable value of every life, born and preborn,” said Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins. “Cultural change needs to begin with the church and with those who say they are dedicated to teaching enduring values.” 

WASHINGTON D.C. (12-20-2023) – TODAY, Students for Life of America’s (SFLA) Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement (IPA) released its latest installment of the Christian Schools Project, a research initiative which examines and raises public awareness about the relationship between the abortion industry and the 767 Christian colleges and universities across the United States. To compile this list, SFLA referred to established online resources such as Niche’s 2024 Best Christian Colleges in America and USCCB’s Catalog of Catholic Colleges and Universities in the United States. The report comes as Christians globally engage in the season of Advent, joyfully anticipating the arrival of Jesus which culminates in Christmas — yet findings show a lack of similar support for present-day babies.  

Research was spearheaded by the SFLA Strategic Initiatives Team and conducted throughout 2023.  

Key Findings  

• Christian schools’ support for abortion increased by 10% since 2021 in the wake of Roe‘s reversal.   
• One in ten Christian schools maintained some type of relationship with Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry.   
• Nearly half of the infractions overall were Christian schools referring students to Planned Parenthood as a “health resource.”   
• Eight Christian schools removed ties to the abortion industry after initial contact with researchers. 42 Christian schools have also made life-affirming improvements since the conclusion of the 2021 study.  

Researchers formed these conclusions after conducting a thorough analysis of schools’ websites and contacting respective administrations to confirm and request the removal of infractions. Infraction categories that were considered included recommending internship or volunteer opportunities within the abortion industry; promoting the abortion industry as “health resource,” “class resource” or future career opportunity; hosting an event with the abortion industry; or publishing a statement in direct support of the abortion industry.  

The Christian Schools Project also looked at how different denominations’ school systems treat the issue of abortion, while acknowledging that faithfulness to each denomination’s principles varies by institution. For data on the 13 denominations’ schools (as well as an ‘other’ category), see the full report. 

To see which Christian schools refused to rectify their infractions in 2021 after being requested to by the IPA team and continued in abortion support through 2023, check out the report here. 

Learn more about the Demetree Institute’s on-going tracking of Christian School activity at SFLA blog, in a story title: “These 70 Christian Schools Are Still on the Naughty List.”

The goal of SFLA’s Christian Schools Project was not to merely expose Christian schools’ relationships with the abortion industry but to encourage infracted schools to cut those ties. Additionally, the project framework promotes furthering a life-affirming culture on campus by supporting nonviolent pregnancy and parenting resources like SFLA’s Standing With You.  

IPA Director Michele Hendrickson stated, “While it’s disheartening to see that abortion support at Christian schools went up following the reversal of Roe v. Wade, this research is the next step in changing that. After publishing our 2021 report on Christian schools in which one in three infracted schools cut ties with Planned Parenthood following contact with IPA researchers, more than 40 institutions have made life-affirming improvements since. 

“We are already seeing that trend continue in 2023. This is because many Christian schools either don’t realize their connection to the abortion industry or by publicly pointing out such a relationship, students and donors are able to apply positive pressure that solves the problem.”  

For complete findings and analysis at the Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement, click HERE.

To take action, click HERE.  

For more on this topic, read Hendrickson’s op-ed entitled “Consistent Christians Oppose Abortion.” 

For interviews, contact  [email protected]  

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Students for Life Action (SFLAction), a 501c4, along with its 501c3 sister organization, Students for Life of America (SFLA), make up the nation’s largest, pro-life youth organization, managing a political and policy operation engaging Americans of all ages but with a special emphasis on the largest segment of voters — the Youth Vote. Together they provide political, legal, educational, and community support for women and children, born and preborn. Headquartered in Fredericksburg, VA, SFLA serves more than 1,400 groups on middle, high school, college, medical, and law school campuses in all 50 states. SFLA and SFLAction have more conversations with this generation targeted by the abortion lobby than any other pro-life operation in the world, each week reaching more than 4 million across social media platforms and averaging 1.3 million video views. SFLA has also launched multiple initiatives to lead and serve the future of the pro-life movement including the Campaign for Abortion Free Cities, Standing With You, and the Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement . Over more than 17 years, President Kristan Hawkins has grown SFLAction/SFLA and the Pro-Life Generation into a nearly $20M organization, now preparing for an abortion-free America.