Georgetown student group faces sanctions for promoting traditional marriage

A Catholic student group at Georgetown University is in danger of being sanctioned after it was accused of being a "hate group" for promoting its belief that marriage is "monogamous and permanent union between a man and a woman."

A student senator has filed a formal complaint on Sept. 25 against the student group Love Saxa, arguing that its definition of marriage violates university standards, which disavows groups that foster hatred or intolerance, The Hoya, Georgetown's student publication, reported.

The complaint came after Love Saxa President Amelia Irvine wrote an op-ed that published in The Hoya last month titled "Confessions of a College Virgin," in which she talked about abstinence before marriage and the group's definition of marriage.

"Love Saxa's definition of marriage does not include same-sex couples, as we believe that marriage is a conjugal union on every level – emotional, spiritual, physical and mental – directed toward caring for biological children. To us, marriage is much more than commitment of love between two consenting adults," she wrote, as reported by Fox News.

Leaders of gay pride student organizations at the university denounced the language in the piece as "homophobic" and accused the group of fostering hatred and intolerance.

Irvine said that Love Saxa is committed to Georgetown's mission and Catholic teaching, and contended that her organization has never advocated for violence toward any individual or group.

A hearing was initially scheduled for Oct. 23 to allow Love Saxa to defend itself against the charges, but it has been rescheduled for Oct. 30 after the group petitioned for a delay because it had not been given enough time to prepare a defense.

The group told Catholic News Agency (CNA) that it was only informed of the hearing date on the evening of Oct. 19, adding that it had not received a copy of the petition, or an exact rendering of the charges.

Love Saxa, which receives $250 a year from the university, could lose its funding and be barred from using campus facilities if the hearing concludes that it holds intolerant and hateful beliefs.

Irvine told CNA that she is confident that the school "will uphold our right to exist, given that we share the Catholic view on marriage."

Georgetown, a Catholic university founded by the Society of Jesus in 1789, has since issued a statement that did not appear to take sides on the issue.

"As the students on the Student Activities Commission review the complaint regarding Saxa formally submitted by individual students on Oct. 22, we encourage all students to follow our community commitment to open dialogue and mutual respect," a university spokesperson said.