Posted on 05/23/2006 12:27:26 PM PDT by franky
"The commencement speech, with reprimands for birth-control use and a recent food fight, sparked boos and walkouts:
A University of St. Thomas honors graduate who scolded his fellow seniors at Saturday's commencement ceremony for being "selfish" apologized Monday for offending people during his politically charged speech. Ben Kessler, an academic All-America football player who plans to become a priest, chastised students for using birth control, criticized them for a recent food fight and upheld the St. Paul university's controversial policy against allowing unmarried faculty and staff members in romantic relationships to room together on school trips that involve students. "Then he got into other failures of society, and one of my classmates next to me stood up and left," said Daphne Ho, a graduating senior whose family traveled from Hong Kong for the celebration.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
The speech prompted booing and walkouts.
I expect Flynn was booing with the best of them. (Of course, if the kid had given the usual pro-gay, anti-Church rant, he would have been praised to the skies for his "tolerant" outlook.)
If he gets this hyped up over food fights and b/c pills, he's going to stroke out by 25.
I think we had another story on FR about him recently. God bless him, that archdiocese could use some good priests.
The Church could use more good priests like this that have the courage to stand up even when people are booing you off the stage. That's good preparation for some of the rebellious liberals he's going to come across in the Church today. Good sign that he didn't back down or stop.
"Then he got into other failures of society, and one of my classmates next to me stood up and left," said Daphne Ho
I wonder which failure of society that kid supports.
I think it's rude to introduce any actual content into a college graduation. People are there to get their diplomas (students) or see the payoff, *finally*, from all their tuition $.
Don't these students know that they're graduating from a Catholic school?
Doesn't sound like he was the one that was "hyped up."
Of course you know, he's now officially disqualified from the priesthood. ;-)
* LOL Curt, baby. The exemplary young man wasn't talking politics.
Ben Kessler, an academic All-America football player who plans to become a priest, chastised students for using birth control,
* Objectively a mortal sin; it kills Sanctifying Grace in one's soul. Warning other's of spiritual death used to be the duty of the authorities at places like St. Thomas. It seems they don't do it. I am glad he did.
... and upheld the St. Paul university's controversial policy against allowing unmarried faculty and staff members in romantic relationships to room together on school trips that involve students.
*OF COURSE THAT'S CONTROVERSIAL. When the hell is the College President going to apologise, and repent. Aren't these "faculty members" supposed to set a Christian example? Fire the nitwit who approved this policy of sanctioned fornication.
"Then he got into other failures of society, and one of my classmates next to me stood up and left," said Daphne Ho, a graduating senior whose family traveled from Hong Kong for the celebration.
*Ok, that's obviously a joke.
I really don't see the problem. It's not like he named names. I supect the REAL PROBLEM is the word got out to the parents in attendance. My guess is they had NO IDEA their sons and daughters were banging away like minks on viagra and they had NO IDEA that Faculty and Staff had the permisssion of the College to shack-up while on trips with students. I'll bet the prsident is scared out of his wits (I am being generous in assuming he has them) that now that the word is out there will be FEWER students next year, which means LESS MONEY. And, after all, there are far too many CINO Colleges whose major concern is NOT the Souls of their students but the wallets of their parents.
Where can I email this guy and congratulate him on a fine speech and lecture him on never apologising for saying the Truth?
Of course, a whole lotta St. Thomas professors and students will oppose him at every turn for not being sufficiently "catholic" (and that's a really small-c adjective).
Indeed.....C.I.N.O.'s!
Whaaa? A seminarian-to-be at a Catholic school was required to apologize for promoting Catholic moral teaching???
/shakes head in disgust
//adds this event to the long list of reasons to be ashamed of this age
Contrast this fine young man with that idiot, Jean Rohe, the student at the New School who gave a speech bashing Sen. John McCain. While I don't agree with some of McCain's views, he is a war hero, U.S. Senator, and invited guest speaker for the New School's commencement, and little Miss Rohe was completely and utterly rude, and yet was considered courageous (although speaking to the liberal choir). OTOH, this young Mr. Kessler is one who is truly a man of courage to speak the truth to a packed house of dissenting Catholics. God willing, he'll be an outstanding priest.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.