Jesuit School Blasted Over Speaker

AP/Newsday ^ | 4/16/05 | ELIZABETH M. GILLESPIE

[kiriath_jearim]

Jesuit School Blasted Over Speaker

By ELIZABETH M. GILLESPIE Associated Press Writer

April 16, 2005, 11:13 AM EDT

SEATTLE -- A conservative Catholic group is lashing out at Seattle University for picking former Gov. Gary Locke to deliver this year's commencement speech, saying his support for abortion rights, same-sex partner benefits and other causes clashes with church doctrine.

In a statement on the Jesuit university's Web site this week, the school's president, the Rev. Stephen J. Sundborg, praised Locke for his work to improve education, welfare reform and trade. "The integrity and compassion that underlie (his) accomplishments exemplify the values of Seattle University," Sundborg said.

However, Sundborg's decision drew blistering comments from Patrick J. Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society based in Manassas, Va.

"Integrity and compassion? Not from a Catholic point of view!" Reilly said in a statement on his group's Web site. "Locke is a steadfast enemy of defenseless preborn children and all those who would protect their lives."

Sundborg was traveling Friday and not available for comment.

Locke, a Democrat whose second term ended in January, said the criticism didn't faze him.

"That's what a university is all about," he told The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday from San Francisco, where he was on a business trip. "Universities are to foster examination of divergent views and critical thinking."

Locke, who characterized himself as a Protestant, said he hasn't decided exactly what he'll speak about at the June 13 commencement.

[kiriath_jearim]

Aren't the Jesuits the most liberal of the Catholic clergy? I recall a recent Vatican condemnation of a book written by a theologian at a Jesuit school in Berkely, and the theologian was prohibited from teaching there.

[Ann Archy]

Jesuits aren't very Catholic anymore.....sad.

[Emmett McCarthy]

Once upon a time I spent 8 years being educated by Jesuits and it was worthwhile back then, but today I wouldn't have anything to do with them. Their seminaries are loaded up with queers and/or fans of Che Guevara.

[OldFriend]

A Catholic College in NY chose hilary clinton to be their commencement speaker.

[Holden Magroin]

The Jesuits used to plot assasinations of heretical Protestant monarchs. Now, they're about as Catholic as Ted Kennedy.

[bpjam]

There are still lots and lots of socialists hiding under a robe or behind a cleric collar. Somebody will remember this name for me but one of the most vile Democrat congressman from either NY or MA left congress and became a Jesuit priest. Before leaving Congress, he helped destroy the CIA and Nixon. You could just see the evil intentions emanating from this guy when he spoke about the GOP or the CIA. But now he claims that he is a man of God and still manages to make political statements and get himself in the media.

You also have to realize that the seminaries have been loaded since the 60's with gay men wanting access to young boys. Think about it. If you like young boys (not girls, just boys), you either want to be in the boy scouts or you want to be a priest. And the priest is harder to question or suspect since he is the one doing the moral judging for his parish. By no means are all priest gay or communists, but the last 40 years has turned out a group of clergy which no Pope would recognize as being Catholic in their actions or views. And subsequently the Catholic religion has been on a worldwide decline in population for at least three decades until a fairly recent correction because of JPII (which mainly brought in young people who had no history with the Church or its priests).

[bpjam]

"Father" Robert Drinan. This guy was a commie plant from the beginning. He was never about being Catholic as much as he was about forwarding his antithetical personal views from under the cover of his frock. A decent outing of him can be found here: http://www.cathfam.org/polrec/Fr.Drinan1.html

[OldFriend]

Drinan and he's still out there. I am sure I saw him on MSBC most recently.

[madprof98]

Locke, who characterized himself as a Protestant, said he hasn't decided exactly what he'll speak about at the June 13 commencement.

Since he is a person of faith, perhaps he could work from some New Testament text . . . something from Job would be nice.

[Ann Archy]

It's sad that the once most intelligent of Catholic priests have turned to hearts of stone.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Somebody will remember this name for me but one of the most vile Democrat congressman from either NY or MA left congress and became a Jesuit priest.

Drinan was a Priest long before he was elected to Congress. Pope John Paul II gave him and John McLaughlin, yes that John McLaughlin, a choice: politics or the Priesthood. McLaughlin chose politics and Drinan "chose" the Priesthood. He's representative of the smoke of Satan in the sanctuary that Paul VI wrote of. Incidentally, just so you know what kind of constituency Drinan represented, he was replaced in Congress by Barney Frank.