Introduction to Contraception Access on Catholic Campuses
College student Maya Roman has the handoff down to a science: a text message, a walk to a designated site, and a paper bag delivered with condoms and Plan B emergency contraception. At DePaul University, it’s the only way students can get a sliver of sexual health support, she said.
Background on DePaul University’s Contraception Policy
DePaul, a Catholic school in Chicago, prohibits distribution of any kind of birth control on its campus. To get around that, a student group runs a covert contraceptive delivery network called “the womb service.” The group was once the university’s chapter of Planned Parenthood Generation Action, but it has been operating off campus since DePaul in June revoked its status as a student organization.
Catholic Universities and Contraception Access
At Catholic universities, which generally do not offer contraceptives on their campuses or at school-run health centers, student groups have stepped in to fill what they see as gaps in reproductive health care. It often means navigating pushback from college administrators. In line with church teachings that discourage premarital sex and birth control, many Catholic colleges restrict access to contraceptives on campus. The student activists say they are providing essential help on campuses that enroll students of all faiths.
Efforts to Restrict Contraception
Efforts to restrict contraception have mounted around the US. Far beyond college campuses, a growing number of Republican-led states have seen attempts to restrict access to contraception. Some state legislatures have sought to exclude emergency contraception and other birth control methods from state Medicaid programs or have introduced bills requiring parental consent for minors to access contraception. The Trump administration has also frozen funding to family planning clinics that provide free or low-cost contraception and scrubbed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on birth control from government websites.
Activist Groups Connect with Students
Activist groups connect with students just off campus. Roman, an economics student at DePaul, grew up learning about reproductive health from her mother, a nurse. When she arrived on campus, she realized many of her peers had relatively limited sexual health knowledge. Meanwhile, she said she noticed DePaul’s sexual and reproductive health resources were lacking.
DePaul University freshman Anna Daniel, 19, assembles a kit of contraceptive supplies at Oz Park in Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Heidi Zeiger)
Condoms, sexual health literature and emergency contraception are prepared for kits by DePaul University students at Oz Park in Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.(AP Photo/Heidi Zeiger)
DePaul University senior Mak Roban, 20, center, assembles a kit of contraceptive supplies at Oz Park in Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Heidi Zeiger)
DePaul University senior Maya Roman, 22, president of a student reproductive health group, smiles while speaking to fellow members at Oz Park in Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Heidi Zeiger)
Now, the group she leads receives about 15 to 25 orders each week for contraception and hosts sex education seminars.
Organizers See Catholic Colleges as ‘Challenging Environments’
Organizers see Catholic colleges as ‘challenging environments’. A lack of access to contraception can have deep, long-term impacts on students’ lives, Delston said. “What’s at stake for these students is their bodily autonomy — the direction of the rest of their lives, their ability to pursue their goals, get a degree, have a career or start a family at the time it suits them,” she said.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the issue of contraception access on Catholic campuses is complex and multifaceted. While some Catholic universities restrict access to contraceptives, student groups are working to fill the gaps in reproductive health care. These efforts are often met with pushback from college administrators, but the students remain committed to providing essential help to their peers.
FAQs
Q: Why do Catholic universities restrict access to contraceptives?
A: Catholic universities restrict access to contraceptives because of their religious teachings, which discourage premarital sex and birth control.
Q: What is the “womb service”?
A: The “womb service” is a covert contraceptive delivery network run by a student group at DePaul University.
Q: How do student groups provide contraception access on Catholic campuses?
A: Student groups provide contraception access on Catholic campuses by distributing condoms, emergency contraception, and other reproductive health resources, often in secret and off campus.
Q: What are the consequences of restricted access to contraception on Catholic campuses?
A: The consequences of restricted access to contraception on Catholic campuses can include unintended pregnancies, STDs, and limited access to reproductive health care.
Q: How can students get involved in efforts to increase contraception access on Catholic campuses?
A: Students can get involved in efforts to increase contraception access on Catholic campuses by joining student groups, attending sex education seminars, and advocating for policy changes.
