The priest who celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for Joe Biden on his inauguration day as president is under investigation for misconduct charges.
According to a statement from John Sobrato, president of the Santa Clara University Board of Trustees, the university’s board of trustees supports the Jesuit Western Province of the United States in its investigation of the Rev. Kevin O’Brien for conduct (consisting primarily of dialogue) exhibited in an adult setting that may not be consistent with established Jesuit protocols and boundaries.
Sobrato’s statement did not specify the specific allegations against O’Brien, but he further said the university takes the claims seriously, but “at the same Time, we fully respect Father O’Brien’s right to a fair and impartial investigation.”
O’Brien is currently on leave of absence from his position. Sobrato said he will cooperate with independent investigators while O’Brien is on leave and that the results of the investigation will be communicated to the Santa Clara University Board of Trustees.
On Jan. 20, Biden, along with Vice President He Jinli, visited the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, where O’Brien celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, before the presidential inauguration at the U.S. Capitol.
O’Brien has served as president of Santa Clara University (Calif.) since July 2019 and is known to have known the Biden Family for 15 years. He became acquainted with Biden while serving at Georgetown University, another Jesuit college.
O’Brien did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
Tracey Primrose, a spokeswoman for the Jesuit Western Province, which is in charge of the investigation, told the Mercury News, “Jesuits are viewed as adhering to a code of professional conduct, and the province will investigate allegations that may violate or compromise established boundaries.”
“Like any organization, the Jesuit Western Province has confidentiality practices, which is why I cannot provide any other information on this matter,” Primrose said.
Born in Canada, O’Brien became a U.S. citizen in 1988 when he was 22 and earned a bachelor’s degree in government from Georgetown University that year, followed by a law degree from the University of Florida. He joined the Jesuits in 1996.
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