Rev. Kevin O’Brien under investigation in California
The Jesuit priest who officiated then-President-elect Joe Biden’s inaugural Mass — and has been a family friend for almost 15 years — is under investigation for unspecified allegations and is now on leave from his position as president of Santa Clara University in California, according to the college.
The Rev. Kevin O’Brien allegedly “exhibited behaviors in
adult settings, consisting primarily of conversations, which may be
inconsistent with established Jesuit protocols and boundaries,” according to a
statement by John Sobrato, chairman of the college’s board of trustees.
Sobrato’s statement did not specify the allegations against
O’Brien but said the trustees “support those who came forward to share their
accounts.”
He said that while O’Brien is on leave, the priest will be
cooperating with the independent probe, with conclusions to be shared with the
Santa Clara University Board of Trustees.
In January, O’Brien gave the service at Cathedral of St.
Matthew the Apostle for Biden, who is the nation’s second Catholic president,
as well as Vice President Kamala Harris before the inauguration ceremony at the
US Capitol.
He also presided over services for Biden’s inaugurations as
vice president.
The priest – who has been president of Santa Clara
University since July 2019 — has known the Biden family for about 15 years,
according to the university. When he met the family, he was serving at
Georgetown University, another Jesuit college.
O’Brien didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment
from The Associated Press.
Tracey Primrose, spokeswoman for the Jesuits West Province,
which is overseeing the probe, told The Mercury News that “Jesuits are held to
a professional code of conduct, and the Province investigates allegations that
may violate or compromise established boundaries.”
The rep did not elaborate on the investigation.
“As with any organization, the Jesuits West Province has
confidentiality practices, which is why I cannot provide any additional
information regarding this matter,” Primrose said.
Santa Clara University alumni and board members expressed
shock Thursday.
“I’m not sure what’s going on — I’m really surprised,” said
Norman Kline, a member of the university’s Board of Fellows, a fundraising
group, and a former mayor of Saratoga, the Mercury News reported.
O’Brien, he told the paper, was well-liked and impressed the
community when he embarked on a “listening tour” after his inauguration.
“He’s terrific,” Kline added. “I think everybody liked him.”
The Canadian-born O’Brien became a US citizen in 1988 at age
22 and earned an undergraduate degree in government that year from Georgetown
University, followed by a law degree from the University of Florida.
But after exploring a legal career, he accepted a job as a
teacher at Cardinal Newman Catholic high school in West Palm Beach, Florida.
He entered the Jesuit order in 1996 and was ordained in
2006.
Located in Silicon Valley, Santa Clara University has an
annual undergraduate enrollment of about 5,500 students.
Ranked as one of the top 25 schools for undergraduate teaching
nationwide, the private university has a million-dollar endowment and counts
California Govs. Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown among its alumni.
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