Fair Enough

Fr. Thomas Dowd writes from our Neighbor to the North:

Father Thomas Dowd here. As you know, I am a priest of the diocese of Montreal. I have to offer a fraternal correction regarding your post on the situation at Loyola HS in Montreal (why I’m writing you privately rather than post in the comments). Simply put, your swipe at the Jesuits of Loyola was off base.

The members of the English Canadian province of the Jesuits who run Loyola HS are good guys who fought the good fight for Catholic teaching in an increasingly hostile secular state. I know many of the key players in this drama personally, and all are committed to the kind of dynamic orthodoxy espoused by JPII and B16. For example, Douglas Farrow was their key theological expert called to testify in the case — a convert from Anglicanism and deeply committed to the magisterium.

These guys have taken a lot of heat for their pursuit of the case, with grumbling from some of the “keep your head down” school of Catholic management. The last thing they need is to be hit by friendly fire.

I’m delighted to hear this. My primary experience of Jesuits has not been a happy one here in the land of Seattle University (oh! the stories I could tell!). So I am really happy to get this report. If you see anybody from the school, tell them I said, “Boo Yah!” and that I hope they pick up ever increasing enrollments! Also, tell them I said, “Mea culpa!”