Le Moyne College president: Welcoming LGBTQ students is part of our Jesuit mission

In October, as we witnessed events unfold at the Synod on the Synodality, the church continued making progress in its support for LGBTQ Catholics. During the month-long synod, Pope Francis met with a number of individuals and groups to discuss greater recognition and inclusion for those who have been marginalized by the church.

I’m heartened by this. I take pride in the inclusive and welcoming community that exists at Le Moyne College, a Jesuit institution in Syracuse, N.Y., where I have served as president since 2014. 

There is intentionality in what we do at Le Moyne. We strive to attract individuals of all backgrounds to our campus. In a world growing increasingly diverse by nearly every measure, fostering an environment of acceptance and inclusion is vital as our students engage with their classmates and, eventually, make their mark on the world. 

In 1546, St. Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Society of Jesus, described how he wanted his followers to speak to each other. He told them “be considerate and be kind,” “pay attention to the whole person,” “be modest even when you are certain,” “be free of prejudice,” and “consider the reasons on both sides.” Kindness, modesty, patience, an open mind: These aren’t just the principles that make for a meaningful conversation. They are the hallmarks of Jesuit education.

Pope Francis encouraged discernment (another Jesuit hallmark) to guide the Synod, and sought to include members of the church from the bottom-up, instead of including only the traditional hierarchy of bishops. Many hope that this focus outside the traditional structure may lead to a more inclusive institution in the future.

At Le Moyne, the youngest of the 27 Jesuit institutions in the United States, we live by the beliefs espoused by St. Ignatius. Differences are celebrated and used to create teachable moments. The size of our student community— 2,500 undergraduate and 800 graduate students—allows faculty, administrators and staff to develop meaningful relationships, many of which last far beyond the time they spend on our campus.

Student organizations, such as PRISM, serve to celebrate our LGBTQ students, while other groups raise awareness about gender equality and the many cultures represented at Le Moyne. Through our Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, we embrace each person’s uniqueness and individuality.

Recently, as part of Diversity Central, our monthly series of talks, Le Moyne hosted a conversation with LGBTQ mental health professionals to discuss what community leaders, educators and care providers can do to help individuals cope, while sharing their personal experiences and challenges. Throughout the academic year, the college holds similar talks, webinars and events to educate and support students and members of the campus community. 

In October, I was a was a guest on the  “What’s Your Why?” podcast, where I talked about the idea of inclusion. To paraphrase my remarks, I described the basic tenets of Jesuit education, including giving the conversation the time it needs, putting preconceived notions on the sidelines and listening to people, not just to respond. These tenets help us to be more intentional about building a respectful and inclusive community. We are designing a community where people are not going to agree on everything. That’s the idea.

Each fall, I tell prospective students during on-campus recruitment events that we call this an “open house,” but that’s really who we are every day—an open house. I believe that building a welcoming, diverse and inclusive community is an important element of our mission as an institution of higher education in the Jesuit tradition. I’m heartened, therefore, by Pope Francis’s leadership and the progress made at the recent Synod.