"The law in this country is pretty clear about discrimination, so how do we expand that conversation in a much broader context?" he said.
The Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic will "offer legal services to members of the public" with the help of second- and third-year law students, under the direction of a full-time faculty member, the university's announcement explained.
Pham said it will be up to individual professors to decide whether or not to present the Church's teaching in the classroom. He said "when it's my turn to be part of the conversation, I will definitely bring it up, absolutely."
Concerns mentioned by Daly about religious liberty seem rooted in litigation some Catholic institutions have faced in recent years.
In the United States, various Catholic schools and dioceses have faced lawsuits from employees who have been fired after contracting civil same-sex marriages in violation of the diocesan or school policy.
In some states, such as Illinois, California, and Massachusetts, Catholic adoption agencies which do not place children with same-sex couples have been forced to close their doors after losing legal challenges.
In addition, Catholic hospitals have faced lawsuits from people who identify as transgender and wish to recieve surgery or hormone therapy to change their sex.
CNA asked Gonzaga whether students participating in the clinic might find themselves representing clients who are suing Catholic institutions.
"We are in the early stages of this initiative, working to hire a director and launch the clinic in the fall. Given that we are early in our development in the clinic, it is premature on our part to respond to hypothetical circumstances," university spokesperson Chantell Cosner said in an email response to CNA.
"We anticipate being in a position to speak more specifically about the work of the clinic later this fall."
But Pham said even if the clinic advocates for same-sex marriage, "the Church won't recognize that, so this really isn't an issue."
In 2003, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said that "in those situations where homosexual unions have been legally recognized or have been given the legal status and rights belonging to marriage, clear and emphatic opposition is a duty."
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"One must refrain from any kind of formal cooperation in the enactment or application of such gravely unjust laws and, as far as possible, from material cooperation on the level of their application. In this area, everyone can exercise the right to conscientious objection," the CDF added.
According to Pham, more basic issues are likely to be the clinic's focus.
"For us, it's more about how people are discriminated against. So in places of employment, housing, bank loans- you know, they won't give a loan to a couple because they're a same-sex union- so those are really basic human issues," the priest said.
Pham said his main concern is people's assumptions that the clinic will advocate for positions contrary to Church teaching.
"My concern is people jumping to conclusions, and just looking at the name of the clinic, and then making an assumption about it," Pham commented.
"This is something that we're aware of, when we were thinking about doing this clinic. We are a Catholic Jesuit school, our foundation is within Catholic social teaching, so I think my main concern is people hearing about this and often jumping to conclusions without finding out."