Catholic Universities Moving Away from Church Teachings?

WASHINGTON -- Colleges and universities are intended to be incubators of ideas, innovation and debate, but some Catholic universities have taken that notion to questionable levels by celebrating speakers who support policies that go against biblical teachings.

On the campuses of prestigious Catholic universities across America school officials regularly push ideas in direct conflict with the church.

For example, in an effort to promote the free exchange of ideas Georgetown University invited Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards to speak to students.

Instead of an "exchange of ideas" students heard an hour long lecture from Richards' perspective.

"Inviting her was seen as an endorsement of her organization's mission," Georgetown student Justine Warden said.

Read a transcript of Cecile Richards' mocking pro-life student.

Read the live Tweets during Cecile Richards' speech by a Georgetown pro-life student.

In response, pro-life students at Georgetown invited Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life advocate, to give the other side of the story.

"I think even religious universities have really succumbed to the liberal mindset out there that abortion is helping women and that we don't need to judge that choice, we need to be supportive of women whenever they are considering an abortion," Johnson told CBN News.

Read an account of Abby Johnson's speech from Georgetown Right to Life student

Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in America and most women who have abortions are between the ages of 18 and 29.

"I tell people that wherever vulnerable women are, so is Planned Parenthood," Johnson said.

Georgetown student Brenda Lozano had a difficult time listening to Johnson talk about her experience working for Planned Parenthood.

"I am someone who has had an abortion, so it was it was tough to listen to and also, kind of, I had to relive that experience listening to her describe what goes on behind the scenes," she said.

She believes getting support and having some place other than an abortion clinic to turn to could have made a difference.

"Out of desperation, I made the decision because I was alone -- I thought I was alone -- so I made the decision and I regretted it as soon as I got finished," she said.

"As soon as it was over it affected me," she continued. "It was a journey - it was a tough journey - definitely living with the repercussions of that was tough.