The University of Notre Dame is facing renewed scrutiny over its Catholic identity following its decision to defend the appointment of a faculty member who has publicly described abortion restrictions as a form of violence.
According to LifeSiteNews, the self-identified Catholic university issued a statement defending the promotion of University of Notre Dame professor Susan Ostermann to director of the Liu Institute of Asia and Asian Studies, despite significant backlash from Catholic scholars and alumni. Ostermann, an associate professor of global affairs, has authored multiple opinion pieces sharply critical of pro-life laws and abortion restrictions.
In one published statement cited by LifeSiteNews, Ostermann claimed that abortion access “prioritizes and values women’s freedom from experiencing violence, sexual abuse and trauma through forced pregnancy and childbirth,” adding that when governments restrict abortion, “the state supports forced pregnancy and childbirth” and becomes “complicit in this violence.”
Notre Dame defended the appointment in a statement to the National Catholic Register, asserting that Ostermann is “well prepared” to “create impactful research opportunities that advance our dedication to serving as the preeminent global Catholic research institution,” according to LifeSiteNews. The university also praised her as a “highly regarded political scientist and legal scholar” whose work demonstrates the expertise needed to lead the institute.
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While the university acknowledged the controversy indirectly, it stated that those in leadership positions must act in ways “guided by and consistent with the University’s Catholic mission,” adding that Notre Dame’s “commitment to upholding the inherent dignity of the human person and the sanctity of life at every stage is unwavering,” according to the same source.
Criticism of the appointment has been particularly forceful from longtime Notre Dame historian Wilson Miscamble, who described the decision as a “travesty” in a recent First Things publication, as reported by LifeSiteNews. He warned that allowing the appointment to stand would expose “the hollowness of the claim that Catholic character informs all Notre Dame’s endeavors.”
Father Miscamble cited several of Ostermann’s essays, including titles such as “Forced pregnancy and childbirth are violence against women—and also terrible health policy” and “Banning abortion pill mifepristone would be a terrible policy choice and violate human rights.” He also criticized her consultant work with the Population Council, arguing that her views undermine her ability to lead an institute focused on Asian studies, especially given demographic challenges facing several Asian nations.
According to LifeSiteNews, Father Miscamble called on Notre Dame’s Board of Fellows to revoke the appointment, stating that reversal would likely occur only if there were “an outpouring of criticism of the Notre Dame administration.”
Other Notre Dame faculty have echoed concerns about the tone and substance of Ostermann’s public commentary. Law professor Carter Snead told the National Catholic Register that he was “quite shocked by the inflammatory rhetoric and uncharitable tone” of her writings, citing what he described as “confused substance” in her arguments.
Bill Dempsey, founding president of the Sycamore Institute, told the Register that the appointment raises concerns about scandal. He argued that Notre Dame would never promote figures associated with ideologies widely recognized as morally abhorrent, not because of shared views, but because of the signal such promotions would send about institutional priorities.
LifeSiteNews also noted that critics have drawn parallels between the current controversy and Notre Dame’s past decisions to honor political figures such as Barack Obama and Joe Biden, both of whom publicly support legal abortion. These decisions, critics argue, reflect a broader pattern of tension between the university’s public actions and its stated Catholic mission.
Founded in 1842 by Father Edward Sorin, Notre Dame has long been regarded as the premier Catholic university in the United States. However, as LifeSiteNews reports, controversies over abortion, sexual ethics, and institutional autonomy continue to raise questions among the faithful about whether the university’s leadership is fully aligned with the Church’s teachings on the dignity of human life.
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