{"id":56581,"date":"2021-03-19T11:46:10","date_gmt":"2021-03-19T15:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/?p=56581"},"modified":"2021-03-19T11:46:45","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T15:46:45","slug":"wow-even-bidens-inauguration-jesuit-priest-is-being-investigated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/?p=56581","title":{"rendered":"WOW! Even Biden&#8217;s Inauguration Jesuit priest is being investigated!"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Biden inauguration priest Rev. Kevin O\u2019Brien under investigation in California<\/h1>\n<p><!--more-->By Yaron Steinbuch<br \/>\nNew York Post<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" height=\"348\" width=\"618\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"\/\/players.brightcove.net\/4137224153001\/6aIMRO3kiI_default\/index.html?videoId=6241931390001\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The Jesuit priest\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/01\/20\/biden-meets-mcconnell-and-pelosi-at-church-before-inauguration\/\">who officiated<\/a>\u00a0then-President-elect Joe Biden\u2019s inaugural Mass \u2014 and has been a family friend for almost 15 years \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<p>The Rev. Kevin O\u2019Brien allegedly \u201cexhibited behaviors in adult settings, consisting primarily of conversations, which may be inconsistent with established Jesuit protocols and boundaries,\u201d\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scu.edu\/news-and-events\/feature-stories\/2021\/stories\/message-from-the-scu-board-chair.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according to a statement<\/a>\u00a0by John Sobrato, chairman of the college\u2019s board of trustees.<\/p>\n<p>Sobrato\u2019s statement did not specify the allegations against O\u2019Brien but said the trustees \u201csupport those who came forward to share their accounts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He said that while O\u2019Brien 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.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img class=\"wp-image-17604503 lazyloaded\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-08.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-08.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-08.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-08.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-08.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"Rev. Kevin O'Brien, who officiated Joe Biden\u2019s inaugural Mass and has been a family friend for almost 15 years, is under investigation in California.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-08.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-08.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-08.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-08.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-08.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The Rev. Kevin O\u2019Brien, who officiated Joe Biden\u2019s inaugural Mass and has been a family friend for almost 15 years, is under investigation in California.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Carolyn Kaster\/AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In January, O\u2019Brien gave the service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle for Biden, the nation\u2019s second Catholic president, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris before the inauguration ceremony at the US Capitol.<\/p>\n<p>He also presided over services for Biden\u2019s inaugurations as vice president.<\/p>\n<p>The priest \u2014 who has been president of Santa Clara University since July 2019 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img class=\"wp-image-17604509 lazyloaded\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-09.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-09.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-09.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-09.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-09.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"Joe Biden and Jill Biden attend Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, DC, on Jan. 20, 2021.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"674\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-09.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-09.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-09.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-09.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-09.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Joe Biden and Jill Biden attend Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, DC, on Jan. 20, 2021.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Jim Watson\/AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>O\u2019Brien didn\u2019t immediately respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press.<\/p>\n<p>Tracey Primrose, spokeswoman for the Jesuits West Province, which is overseeing the probe,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mercurynews.com\/2021\/03\/18\/santa-clara-university-president-on-leave-pending-investigation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">told the Mercury News<\/a>\u00a0that \u201cJesuits are held to a professional code of conduct, and the Province investigates allegations that may violate or compromise established boundaries.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"inline-related alignright\">\n<div id=\"more-on\" class=\"module--see-also box module inline related desktop\">\n<div class=\"module-title inline\">\n<h4>SEE ALSO<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"module-wrapper \">\n<article class=\"story-photo-box  oversize-headline\"><a class=\"story-thumbnail-wrapper\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/01\/20\/biden-meets-mcconnell-and-pelosi-at-church-before-inauguration\/\"><picture class=\"story-thumbnail\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/biden-church-service-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=231&amp;h=154&amp;crop=1 1x\" media=\"(min-width: 640px)\" sizes=\"100vw\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/biden-church-service-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=231&amp;h=154&amp;crop=1 1x\" data-sizes=\"\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/biden-church-service-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=94&amp;h=62&amp;crop=1 1x\" media=\"(max-width: 639px)\" sizes=\"100vw\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/biden-church-service-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=94&amp;h=62&amp;crop=1 1x\" data-sizes=\"\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" alt=\"\" \/><\/picture><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"headline-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"headline-container\">\n<h3 class=\"postid-17101068 headline\">Biden attends church service with Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell before inauguration<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The rep did not elaborate on the investigation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs with any organization, the Jesuits West Province has confidentiality practices, which is why I cannot provide any additional information regarding this matter,\u201d Primrose said.<\/p>\n<p>Santa Clara University alumni and board members expressed shock Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not sure what\u2019s going on \u2014 I\u2019m really surprised,\u201d said Norman Kline, a member of the university\u2019s Board of Fellows, a fundraising group, and a former mayor of Saratoga, the Mercury News reported.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img class=\"wp-image-17605456 lazyloaded\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/joe-biden-christmas-priest-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/joe-biden-christmas-priest-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/joe-biden-christmas-priest-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/joe-biden-christmas-priest-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/joe-biden-christmas-priest-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/joe-biden-christmas-priest-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/joe-biden-christmas-priest-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/joe-biden-christmas-priest-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/joe-biden-christmas-priest-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/joe-biden-christmas-priest-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The Rev. Kevin O\u2019Brien poses with Joe and Jill Biden during Christmas.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Kevin O&#8217;Brien via Twitter<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>O\u2019Brien, he told the paper, was well-liked and impressed the community when he embarked on a \u201clistening tour\u201d after his inauguration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s terrific,\u201d Kline added. \u201cI think everybody liked him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Canadian-born O\u2019Brien 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.<\/p>\n<p>But after exploring a legal career, he accepted a job as a teacher at Cardinal Newman Catholic high school in West Palm Beach, Florida.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img class=\"wp-image-17604510 lazyloaded\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-10.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-10.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-10.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-10.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-10.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"Joe Biden and Jill Biden arrive at his inauguration on the West Front of the Capitol on Jan. 20, 2021 in Washington, DC.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-10.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-10.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-10.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-10.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/kevin-obrien-president-joe-biden-10.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Joe Biden and Jill Biden arrive at his inauguration on the West Front of the Capitol on Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington, DC.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Rob Carr\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He entered the Jesuit order in 1996 and was ordained in 2006.<\/p>\n<p>Located in Silicon Valley, Santa Clara University has an annual undergraduate enrollment of about 5,500 students.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><em>With Post wires<\/em><\/p>\n<p>___<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/03\/19\/biden-inauguration-priest-under-investigation-in-california\/\">https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/03\/19\/biden-inauguration-priest-under-investigation-in-california\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Biden inauguration priest Rev. Kevin O\u2019Brien under investigation in California<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=56581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56581\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=56581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=56581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=56581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}