The following comes from a September 19 Renew America article by Matt C. Abbott:

It appears that officials of Brophy College Preparatory, a Jesuit high school in Phoenix, Arizona and part of the California Province of the Society of Jesus, aren’t too bothered by “Catholic” Tim Kaine’s support for legalized abortion and same-sex “marriage.”

But they are bothered by an alumnus who recently pointed out on the school’s Facebook page – under a post featuring a USA Today column that highlighted Mr. Kaine’s Jesuit education – that the Democratic vice presidential nominee supports the killing of the unborn.

In an email to me that copied Brophy officials, Eric J. Halvorson wrote:

After reading the piece in its entirety, I proceeded to enter a comment to the effect that ‘Mr. Kaine may be a ‘man for others’; however, he is not a man for the unborn’ – based on his public record and especially with whom he’s running: Hillary Clinton. I then signed my name and stated that I was an ’84 alum.

Several minutes later, I was sent a message by the Brophy Facebook manager requesting that I refrain from making ‘political’ comments on the school’s page. I responded saying that my comments were not intended to be of a political, but rather a religious, nature speaking directly to the sanctity of life. I admittedly was terse toward the end of my response by stating to the manager that they might want to refresh their knowledge on this specific Catholic social teaching.

Well, later that afternoon, I discovered that as a result of my position and response, the manager had essentially banned me from the school’s page. Basically, Brophy ‘unliked’ me and will no longer let me be one of its Facebook ‘fans.’

Now I completely understand and realize that it’s not my First Amendment right to comment on Brophy’s Facebook page. I get that. I also get that Brophy has the right to control and monitor all content and comments on its page. However, Mr. Abbott, as a second generation Brophy alum, this really left me numb and with a horrible taste in my mouth. It made me sad as well.

Just days ago, the Church and Pope Francis made Mother Teresa of Calcutta a Catholic saint. I cannot think of another human in the history of mankind who modeled, exemplified and lived the seven themes of Catholic social teaching – especially the theme ‘Life and Dignity of the Human Person,’ as well as Saint Teresa did. Added to this, she was very outwardly vocal about her defense of the unborn.

Yet the perception I was left with is that Brophy is OK with featuring and celebrating Mr. Kaine’s Jesuit education experience and service to others despite his public record on abortion.

I have found in my 50 years on this earth as a Roman Catholic that the sanctity of life for many millions of American Catholics (and I include so many Jesuit priests as well) has now become passé and a pick-and-choose exercise. They have caved in to the secular pressure of the ‘pro-choice’ crowd.

Now, in this country, even in many Catholic circles such as Brophy’s, one is considered to be a pro-life ‘freak’ or ‘radical’ if one even dares to bring up protecting the innocent unborn. One is now scorned and banned in American Catholic circles if one discusses the unborn.