Robert Casey, Jr as Villanova's Commencement Speaker

Rev. Peter Donohue, OSA, President
Villanova University

Dear Father Donohue,

At the time of his December 2004 death, my uncle was Ireland's oldest Augustinian

and the Irish Augustinian to have served longest in Australia. Several years earlier, he had likely been the oldest Augustinian in active ministry in the United States.

As a parish priest in Australia, California, Colorado, Ireland, and Massachusetts, my uncle was particularly interested in spreading the Faith through the Legion of Mary, which was founded by fellow Dubliner Frank Duff - a man way ahead of his time with regard to a proper understanding of the apostolate of the laity and Catholic Social Teaching.

As per his web site biography, Senator Casey "graduated from The College of the Holy Cross in 1982 and spent the following year teaching fifth grade and coaching eighth grade basketball in inner city Philadelphia for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps." With the name "Robert Casey" and such experiences in his background, many Pennsylvania Catholics seem to have thought that Casey Jr was committed to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. Yet his repeated betrayals of the most vulnerable human beings reveal either utter ignorance of Catholic teaching or rejection of such. How unfortunate it is that historically Catholic institutions like Villanova are willing to give him cover!

Father, I encourage you to read the "Casey on Killing of Bin Laden" statement on Senator Casey's web site. I speak as a Pennsylvania to New York commuter, who was at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Casey's immediate and unqualified endorsement of "killing" Bin Laden reveals absolutely no reflection on what the Church teaches, re: "Just War Theory." As the Just War Theory is part of the great intellectual heritage of Saint Augustine, Villanova is making itself look particularly foolish by honoring Casey.

I last wrote to you in 2007, to object to Villanova's choice of Cable TV host Chris Matthews as a commencement speaker. Your choice of Robert Casey, Jr as this year's commencement speaker appears to be another slap in the face to the memory of countless Augustinians like my uncle.

Sincerely,