The Catholic University of America hosted a self-described “abortion doula” to lecture students about her experience coaching women through abortions, births, and “pregnant men” through “seahorse births.”
The doula, Rachel Carbonneau, was invited to speak by psychology lecturer Melissa Goldberg, who teaches Psychology 379: Lifespan Development at the Catholic University of America.
A doula traditionally refers to an individual who advocates for and encourages pregnant women through the birthing process; however, an “abortion doula” will walk pregnant women through the process of terminating the life of their unborn child.
Carbonneau told students that she works with “trans clients,” according to audio obtained by the Daily Signal. “I have some men who have given birth; it’s amazing, we call it seahorse birth. It’s lovely, especially when it’s a water birth; it’s fantastic,” she said.
According to the Daily Signal, “Female seahorses still produce eggs and male seahorses fertilize them, but male seahorses incubate the young in a special pouch, from which the young emerge. This does not mean male seahorses become female, but they do appear to “give birth,” in a sense, so pro-transgender activists claim that when a “transgender man” gives birth, that is similar to a male seahorse doing so.”
The doula then urged students to “normalize” language surrounding males “giving birth.”
“I think just normalizing it, right? Using the gender-neutral language, talking about pregnant men as pregnant people, pregnant women, pregnant men, pregnant humans,” she told the class.
The school confirmed to the outlet that the “abortion doula” did in fact address the class regarding her professional expertise; however, the university insisted that she did not represent the institution’s values.
“The Catholic University of America was appalled to learn about reports regarding this guest speaker,” the university told The Daily Signal in a written statement Friday. “It does not reflect our mission and values as a university that is committed to upholding the dignity of life at all stages.”
“The guest speaker will not be speaking again to the class,” the university added, referring to Carbonneau, “and we are re-communicating the terms and expectations by which all outside speakers are vetted and invited.”
A 20-year-old nursing student at the Roman Catholic University, Felipe Avila, called the lecture “really unsettling” in an interview with the Daily Signal. “The fundamental point [of her coursework] is to understand human development from conception to natural death, right?” Avila asked. “And they brought in someone who counsels women to terminate life.”
