Contact: Jim Infantine, President, 1887 Trust, 360-519-4287, jinfantine@1887trust.org

SPOKANE, Wash., Aug. 12, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Responding to what they perceive to be a weakening of Gonzaga University's Catholic identity, an alumni and parent group has formed to encourage the strengthening of the school's commitment to the Catholic faith.

The 1887 Trust website www.1887trust.org outlines what it views as evidence of a decline in Gonzaga's Catholic learning environment. Among the group's concerns are the denial of a request by the Knights of Columbus for student club status, a proposed reduction in religion credits in the core curriculum, a public lecture policy that celebrates and honors speakers who stand in public opposition to Church teaching, a performance of The Vagina Monologues, HHS mandate compliance, and a muddled presentation of Church teaching about human sexuality.

"Catholic identity at Gonzaga has lost ground," said Jim Infantine, the parent of two Gonzaga graduates and president of 1887 Trust. "One example is the University's rejection of student club status for the Knights of Columbus. The decision made by the Division of Student Life revealed a school policy that valued inclusivity more than Catholicism. President McCulloh deserves credit for reviewing that decision, although his alternative proposal to the Knights of Columbus actually upholds the denial of club status to the council. When a universally admired Catholic organization is denied status as a student club at a Catholic school because its members are Catholic, the school has drifted into a secular ideology far from its founding mission. The continuing secularization of the University remains a concern." Another concerning development, according to Infantine, was the University's compliance with the HHS mandate, "before the government imposed deadline and without a significant protest. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is calling the mandate unjust, while Gonzaga is acquiescing."

Among 1887 Trust's goals are increases in the number of Catholic faculty members and members of the Board of Trustees, enforcement of the mandatum for theology professors, a strengthened speaker policy, and a core curriculum featuring deeper contact with the intellectual resources of the Catholic Church.

Jim is hopeful that 1887 Trust can encourage change. "The group's name recalls the year of Gonzaga's founding and the foundational principles of authentic Catholic education. We hope more alumni, parents and stakeholders will join us in encouraging the University to strengthen its Catholic identity."