<p>The religion classes at most Catholic colleges really aren’t "Catholic Classes’ and are really Theology classes. Often there is a large range of subject matter in those classes. One course taught at my Catholic University was on Buddhism. There certainly were classes where you could explore the Catholic faith more in depth but there many more offerings as well.</p>
<p>^^. I actually think everyone should take theology/comparitive religion classes, no matter what kind of college they attend. I think we might have more productive, less antagonistic discourse about religion if people were more knowledgeable about other religions, and even about their own!</p>
<p>jaylynn–I agree!</p>
<p>We did admitted student days at Gonzaga, University of Portland, Whitworth, Santa Clara, and LMU, and son is about to finish his first year at LMU. As far as I know, he has never been to church, and I don’t believe he has taken any religion classes yet either. Of all the schools mentioned, it seems the easiest to forget it is a “religious” school. It was more obvious at University of Portland, which is “Catholic”, and MUCH more obvious at Whitworth, which is “Christian”. </p>
<p>My kids went to a tiny “Christian” school from preschool through high school, and the Jesuit schools don’t seem religious at ALL to us. We were not interested in any more of that atmosphere, and this one seems just right. He is sort of “straight edge” compared to a lot of teens, but is fine being the designated driver, and enjoying a party from time to time.</p>
<p>
These are a couple of strange statements. What difference does it make if the college itself doesn’t offer it? She can always get her BC elsewhere including by mail. She can see whatever doc she’s currently seeing when she comes home on visits - it’s not as if she must see a doc every few weeks for this. She can also see any of a number of docs at locations likely within a couple of miles from her school. Frankly, from what I’ve heard about some campus health clinics, she’s probably better off using a different resource for this anyway. The campus health center may not be what you’re envisioning. </p>
<p>I don’t understand the statement of ‘forcing her to see private doctors’. If she’ll be over 18 and she wants the BC then shouldn’t she be old enough and hopefully mature enough to see a doc on her own without having to be ‘forced’ by the parent? Maybe you didn’t mean it this way but that’s the way it read. </p>
<p>btw - If she’s going to end up seeing health resources outside of the campus you might want to see about waiving the health insurance fee colleges like to impose. If she’s on your insurance anyway you can save some money this way and in some cases have better resources.</p>
<p>Or did you mean you’re uncomfortable spending your money to support an institution with the Catholic views on the topic as opposed to the practicalities for your D? In that case I can understand your viewpoint and think you have every right to either not support it or to spend the money for your D to attend college and accept the fact that you’re likely not to agree 100% with everything every institution does. I don’t like the fact that my hard earned money went to support liberal and communist (really) professors but in the end that’s what I did for the degrees to be attained. It’s all a compromise.</p>
<p>So from a practical perspective I think it’s a non-issue and from a philosophical perspective you just need to decide how important it is to you and what the alternatives are. No matter what you do you’ll likely have to compromise somewhere along the line. Just picture your tuition money going to pay for the school and profs, etc. and not heading back into the pot for the ‘institution’ and you should be good.</p>
<p>There are Catholic colleges and then there are VERY Catholic colleges. One way to understand the difference between the two is to look at the classes that every student is required to take. If there are lots of Catholic theology classes, I’d avoid it if I was not very Catholic. If instead, the college only requires comparative religion and ethics classes, that shows a much more open-minded attitude.</p>
<p>I understand the underlying frustration about birth control. Many colleges have it available in their clinics. Not having something like that covered is just really annoying. </p>
<p>For my daughters going to a womens clinic for female check ups, prescriptions, etc worked well. They could pretty much see anyone there. And they were very comprehensive about womens health overall.</p>
<p>So coming from a mom just like the op, don’t let thisnbe the deal breaker. Before she heads off to school have a check up, make copies of records, etc and don some research on womens clinics nearby. </p>
<p>Back to the regligous angle, there isn a very strong social justice, volunteer, being involved in community at those schools.</p>
<p>“Could a liberal agnostic student with an intellectual bent be happy at Santa Clara University, Loyola Marymount University, University of San Diego, or University of San Francisco?”</p>
<p>Yes, yes, yes, and yes. IMHO the University of San Francisco is the “odd duck” of the four. That doesn’t mean bad … it does mean “be sure to visit.”</p>