I’ve been following this story in the Seattle Times with great sorrow and dismay. I am a graduate of Seattle U (2000 - a late in life degree in theology). My daughter is a Seattle U alumna. My husband, son and sisters are Gonzaga U grads. I’m giving this history to let you know that I come from a family where the Jesuit tradition is loved and respected and known from the inside.
As I understand it, Marquette rescinded the job offer because MS O’Brien publically expressed views contrary to the Marquette mission in her professional writings. Since she is billed as an expert in gay and lesbian matters I am going to imagine that she trumpets the gay life as a good in contradiction to what the Church understands in these matters. Presumably, Marquette’s mission is to further the coming of the Kingdom by forming their students in the way of God’s ultimate Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. They had to reject her.
Sadly, my alma mater, Seattle U, doesn’t come out of this looking too good. Before I could graduate, I had to write an entire paper on Seattle U’s mission statement. Nowhere in that statement did I see a mandate to for my school to harbor a teacher who openly mocked a serious matter of Catholic morals and for her to be cheered on by the faculty and administration for doing this.
All I know is what I have read in the secular press. Please, somebody, tell me I have it wrong.
