#USA #Oregon – In a development that drew sharp criticism from Catholic watchdogs, the University of Portland, a liberal arts institution sponsored by the Congregation of the Holy Cross, employed a self-described lesbian pastor as an associate professor of theology for six years, where she taught courses on “queer theology” and “Christianity, gender, and sexuality.”
Brandy Daniels, who is in a civil marriage to another woman, served on the faculty while also co-directing the university’s Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies department. A student newspaper profile published on April 27, 2026, highlighted her personal journey from an evangelical Christian background—where she once aspired to marry a male pastor—to her current role as an openly queer theologian and pastor.
According to university records and the profile in The Beacon, Daniels’ research focused on intersections between constructive and political theologies, social ethics, and feminist and queer theories, with particular emphasis on identity, community, and difference. Her faculty biography on the University of Portland’s website confirmed her teaching portfolio and administrative role in the gender studies program.
The story gained attention after traditional Catholic outlets, publicized the arrangement on May 19th, 2026. Critics argued that employing a professor in a same-sex “marriage” to instruct students in theology at a nominally Catholic university represented a departure from Church teaching on marriage and sexuality. The University of Portland, founded in 1901 and recognized as a Catholic institution, faced renewed questions about its fidelity to doctrinal standards.
University officials did not immediately issue a detailed public response to the reports. Contact information for university president Robert Kelly was circulated by critics urging concerned Catholics to voice objections.
The episode reflected broader tensions in Catholic higher education, where some institutions have navigated debates over academic freedom, identity, and adherence to traditional teachings. Daniels’ case was not isolated; similar controversies have arisen at other Catholic campuses in recent years. Most recently, universities were under scrutiny for “Lavender” graduations that were public defiance efforts to go against Church teachings on homosexuality. More specifically, Catholic universities in the United States have been under fire for placing faculty members in leadership positions that hold strong oppositions to Church teachings, such as with Fordham University president or the Notre Dame University department head with pro-abortion views.
Traditionalist groups framed the hiring as emblematic of ongoing challenges within Church-affiliated universities, calling for greater oversight to ensure alignment with Catholic doctrine. As of May 20th, 2026, the University of Portland had not issued a formal statement addressing the professor’s continued employment or course offerings.
Image: Brandy Daniels seen teaching a course on theology at an unknown date and time.
