Jesuit School Blasted Over Speaker

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." [Source]

I think to differentiate between old school faithful Jesus and some of the modern incarnation is to identify some of the modern new strain (and more virulent ) as Jeebuits after what Homer Simpson would cry out in times of trouble "Help! Save me Jeebus!" The Society of Jeebus would be a much more accurate moniker to identify these members who have traded a beautiful Jesuit tradition for a microwaved bowl of pottage. A modern Saint Xavier would not have went of to Japan (at least at first) but would have started his missionary endeavors at Jeebuit run colleges and universities.

"Cuz JEEBUS said if we don’t do what’s in the book we ain’t goin up to heabin."

Not to be missed is Karen Hall’s post that contained this wonderful tidbit.

As I’ve learned many times in my life, God can work with anything. So without a bunch of pope-hating Jesuits that I met along the way, my now very orthodox butt would probably still be an arrogant agnostic.