Did Tim Kaine Truly Get a Catholic Education?
During his speech at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night, vice presidential candidate Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia emphasized that his “faith became something vital” during his studies at a Jesuit high school. And Kaine has mentioned the importance of his Jesuit education a number of times recently in campaign speeches.
But from his time in high school until now, it doesn’t seem Kaine has ever learned to embrace the fullness of the Catholic faith. Even the Jesuit editors of America Magazine — who would never be branded conservative Catholics — took exception to Kaine’s claim to have learned “social justice” in school while supporting Hillary Clinton’s radical agenda to expand abortion.
What does that tell us about the quality of his Catholic upbringing and Jesuit education?
“My parents, Al and Kathy, here tonight and going strong, they taught me about hard work and about kindness and most especially, about faith,” Kaine said at the convention in Philadelphia. “I went to a Jesuit boys high school, Rockhurst High School,” in Kansas City, Mo.
“Now we had a motto in my school, ‘men for others.’ And it was there that my faith became something vital. My north star for orienting my life,” he continued. “And when I left high school, I knew that I wanted to battle for social justice.” Kaine went on to talk about how he volunteered with Jesuit missionaries in Honduras to teach kids welding and carpentry skills during a break from studying at Harvard Law.
Rockhurst High School has expressed support for Kaine in a series of tweets, including emphasizing that Kaine is, “A true believer in service and a ‘man for others’!” An article about Kaine is also featured on the school’s website.
“Senator Kaine has devoted himself to service during his entire career,” Father Terrence Baum, S.J., president of Rockhurst High School, said in the post. “We salute his achievements and know he will continue to do his best as a ‘man for others.’”
We’re very proud of alumnus @timkaine of the Great Class of 1976! A true believer in service and a “man for others”! More to come soon. AMDG
— Rockhurst HS (@RockhurstHS) July 23, 2016
Thanks for the shout out @timkaine! Keep going for the “magis”! Video c/o @MJHNova. AMDG pic.twitter.com/mbONLqNgmQ
— Rockhurst HS (@RockhurstHS) July 24, 2016
The praise from Kaine’s alma mater implies that he fully understands what it means to be a “man for others” in the mold of his Jesuit education.
But for Kaine, being Catholic doesn’t prevent him from ignoring his faith to support redefining marriage to include same-sex couples, the use of birth control and the ordination of women as priests. Being “for others” doesn’t include protecting the innocent unborn, who are created in the image and likeness of God. His efforts to “battle for social justice” don’t include seeking justice for those killed in the womb.
LifeSiteNews notes that Kaine “has a perfect pro-abortion record in the Senate and supports Planned Parenthood. Kaine is also a co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill that would undermine pro-life laws across the country.” The news service also recently highlighted abortion giant Planned Parenthood’s excitement about Kaine as the Democrat vice presidential nominee, calling Kaine a man who has “dedicated his life to serving others.”
More broadly, Kaine betrays his service “for others” as a Catholic by purposefully causing scandal with his public statements and political positions against Church teaching that could confuse both Catholics and others about the importance of defending innocent life.
To be clear, I don’t mean “a scandal” but the sin of scandal. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “Anyone who uses the power at his disposal in such a way that it leads others to do wrong becomes guilty of scandal and responsible for the evil that he has directly or indirectly encouraged.” The person who gives scandal “may even draw his brother into spiritual death.”
We are also reminded in the Catechism that the sin of scandal prompted Jesus to warn, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
As a public figure and a Catholic in political life, Kaine has used his influence to oppose the Church. He has publicly separated himself from fundamental Church teachings, giving the impression to the public that one can be a faithful Catholic and hold the positions which he does.
Kaine said during his convention speech that his time in Honduras “convinced me that we have got to advance opportunity for everybody, no matter where you come from, how much money you have, what you look like, how you worship or who you love.”
What about the opportunity for eternal life and eternal happiness with Christ in heaven? What good is a lifetime of service “for others” if you ignore the most important aspect of serving others in the name of God: spreading the Gospel for the salvation of souls?
While being “for others” is important, it’s not always helpful and healthy to serve others’ selfish ends. A man or woman who first lives for Christ and allows truth to guide their actions — that’s what we expect from a graduate of Catholic education.
Adam Cassandra serves as editor at The Cardinal Newman Society. Follow him on Twitter: @adamcassandra.
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