Keynote speakers at “The Beauty of Truth: Navigating Society Today as a Catholic Woman” conference, held Jan. 9-10, 2026, in Houston (left to right): Erika Bachiochi, Mary Eberstadt, Angela Franks, Pia de Solenni, and Leah Sargeant. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the University of St. Thomas
Jan 18, 2026 / 10:26 am (CNA).
Thispastweek,nearlyaquarterofU.S.statessuedthefederalgovernmentfordefiningbiologicalsexasbinary,theU.S.SupremeCourtheardargumentsforandagainstlegallyallowingmalestocompeteagainstfemalesinsports,andaVaticanofficialcalledsurrogacya“newformofcolonialism”thatcommodifieswomenandtheirchildren.
Thesearejustthelatestlegalandculturaleffectsofa“massculturalconfusion”surroundingthemeaningandpurposeofthehumanbody,andparticularlywomen’sbodies,accordingtoLeahJacobson,programcoordinatoroftheCatholicWomen’sandGenderStudiesProgramattheUniversityofSt.ThomasinHouston.
OnJan.9–10,theprogramsponsoredasymposiumtitled“TheBeautyofTruth:NavigatingSocietyTodayasaCatholicWoman,”whichbroughttogetheragroupofCatholicwomenwhohaveus
