Actress Maria Bello, a 1989 graduate of Villanova University, speaks warmly of the impact her alma mater has had on her life in the current issue of Villanova Magazine. “Villanova set me on my path in life and to peace and justice education,” says Bello, who is described in the introduction to the interview as a “social justice advocate and co-founder of We Advance, a movement that advances the well-being of women in Haiti.” Unfortunately, Villanova did not set Bello on a path towards upholding Church teaching on abortion and contraception. The graduate of the Augustinian college reportedly (here) was one of the Hollywood celebrities who marched in a 2004 pro-abortion “March for Women.” Sponsored by Feminist Majority, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, National Organization for Women and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the march protested laws restricting partial birth abortion. Bello was also reportedly (here) one of the abortion rights supporters who flanked Senator Barbara Boxer in Boxer’s 2010 senatorial campaign as Boxer charged that her opponent, Carly Fiorina, was “anti-choice.” Earlier this year, when Bello was at Villanova raising money for her clinic in Haiti, The Cardinal Newman Society took a look at We Advance’s annual report and the website for the clinic. Here is what CNS reported:

Bello’s charity proclaims on its website that it offers “distribution of condoms,” according to the group’s report. Under the listing “Family planning,” the site says, “Students are taught different methods of birth control. Birth control is supplied when available.” Under successes to date, the website lists, “We have given over 300 condoms to men in one week alone.”

While Bello’s charities undoubtedly do good work, we hope that it wasn’t anything that she learned at Villanova that convinced her abortion and contraception are morally acceptable or helpful to women. And we hope that Villanova can turn its focus to celebrating alumni who are not afraid to stand up for a culture of life.

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