Vincent O'Keefe
Encyclopedia
Father Vincent O'Keefe S.J. is the former Vicar General of the Society of Jesus
and a past President of Fordham University
.
In 1981, as the battle between conservatives and liberals in the Jesuits intensified, the order's superior general, Pedro Arrupe
, suffered a stroke. The Jesuits nominated the Rev. O'Keefe, an ardent American liberal, to run the order until a successor could be found. O'Keefe had been a senior aide to Arrupe. The pope, in a highly unusual and historic decision, intervened and appointed instead Father Paolo Dezza
, who was known as a brilliant scholar and also a traditionalist, as a special pontifical delegate to serve as the Jesuits' interim leader.
In 2004, O'Keefe responded to criticisms from Malachi Martin
and stated that Martin had been released from all his priestly vows save the vow of chastity. It is claimed that attacks were mounted on Martin in retaliation for his book The Jesuits, which is hostile to the Jesuit order of which he had formerly been a member. In the book, he accuses the Jesuits of deviating from their original character and mission by embracing Liberation Theology.
O'Keefe voted for John Kerry
in the 2004 American elections. A self-described Democrat and a big fan of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, O’Keefe chose Kerry even though he disagrees with the senator's position on abortion.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
and a past President of Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
.
In 1981, as the battle between conservatives and liberals in the Jesuits intensified, the order's superior general, Pedro Arrupe
Pedro Arrupe
Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. was the twenty eighth Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was born in Bilbao, Spain.-Education and training:...
, suffered a stroke. The Jesuits nominated the Rev. O'Keefe, an ardent American liberal, to run the order until a successor could be found. O'Keefe had been a senior aide to Arrupe. The pope, in a highly unusual and historic decision, intervened and appointed instead Father Paolo Dezza
Paolo Dezza
Paolo Dezza, S.J. was a Roman Catholic Jesuit cardinal who led the Pontifical Gregorian University during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII, whom he aided in the preparation of the dogma of the Assumption of Mary...
, who was known as a brilliant scholar and also a traditionalist, as a special pontifical delegate to serve as the Jesuits' interim leader.
In 2004, O'Keefe responded to criticisms from Malachi Martin
Malachi Martin
Malachi Brendan Martin Ph.D. was a Catholic priest, theologian, writer on the Catholic Church, and professor at the Vatican's Pontifical Biblical Institute. He held three doctorates and was the sole author of sixteen books covering religious and geopolitical topics, which were published in eight...
and stated that Martin had been released from all his priestly vows save the vow of chastity. It is claimed that attacks were mounted on Martin in retaliation for his book The Jesuits, which is hostile to the Jesuit order of which he had formerly been a member. In the book, he accuses the Jesuits of deviating from their original character and mission by embracing Liberation Theology.
O'Keefe voted for John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
in the 2004 American elections. A self-described Democrat and a big fan of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, O’Keefe chose Kerry even though he disagrees with the senator's position on abortion.