The Jesuit priest who led then President-elect Joe Biden’s inaugural Mass – and has been a family friend for nearly 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.
According to a statement by John Sobrato, chairman of the college’s board of trustees, Reverend Kevin O’Brien allegedly “exhibits behavior in an adult setting, consisting mainly of conversations, that violate established Jesuit protocols and boundaries”. .
Sobrato’s statement did not specify the charges against O’Brien, but said the trustees “support those who have come forward to share their accounts.”
He said that while O’Brien is on leave, the priest will collaborate with the independent investigation, and the conclusions will be shared with the Santa Clara University Board of Trustees.
In January, O’Brien held the service at St. Matthew the Apostle to Biden, who is the country’s second Catholic president, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris before the inauguration ceremony at the Capitol.
He also chaired Biden’s inauguration services 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 served at Georgetown University, another Jesuit college.
O’Brien did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
Tracey Primrose, spokeswoman for the West Province Jesuits, who oversees the probe, told The Mercury News that “Jesuits are bound by a professional code of conduct, and the county is investigating allegations that could violate or compromise set boundaries.”
The representative did not comment on the investigation.
“As with any organization, the Western Province of the Jesuits has confidentiality practices, and therefore I cannot provide additional information on this matter,” Primrose said.
Santa Clara University alumni and board members were shocked on 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, reported the Mercury News.
O’Brien, he told the paper, was well loved and impressed the community when he embarked on a “listening tour” after his inauguration.
“He’s great,” added Kline. “I think everyone liked him.”
Canadian-born O’Brien became a U.S. citizen in 1988 at the age of 22 and earned a bachelor’s degree in government from Georgetown University that year, followed by a law degree from the University of Florida.
But after exploring a legal career, he accepted a teaching job at Cardinal Newman Catholic High School in West Palm Beach, Florida.
He joined the Jesuit Order in 1996 and was ordained in 2006.
Located in Silicon Valley, Santa Clara University has an annual enrollment of approximately 5,500 students.
Ranked as one of the 25 Best Schools for National Education, the private university has a million dollar endowment and California Govs. Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown among its alumni.
With pole wires