Jesuitical Thinking at its Worst

James Taranto points out the hypocrisy of a Boston College Theology Professor who criticizes a Harvard Law Professor being awarded a medal at Notre Dame. Mary Ann Glendon declined the honor because she would be on the podium with Obama, prompting morality-muddled moron Kenneth Himes, the chair of the BC theology dept., to declaim:

"There are some well-meaning people who think Notre Dame has given away its Catholic identity, because they have been caught up in the gamesmanship of American higher education, bringing in a star commencement speaker even if that means sacrificing their values, and that accounts for some of this," said the Rev. Kenneth Himes, chairman of theology department at Boston College. "But one also has to say that there is a political game going on here, and part of that is that you demonize the people who disagree with you, you question their integrity, you challenge their character, and you brand these people as moral poison. Some people have simply reduced Catholicism to the abortion issue, and, consequently, they have simply launched a crusade to bar anything from Catholic institutions that smacks of any sort of open conversation."

But there is another side to this forked-tongue Jesuitical thinker's mouth:

Nearly 100 faculty members at Boston College have signed a letter objecting to the college's decision to award Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice an honorary degree.
The letter entitled "Condoleezza Rice Does Not Deserve a Boston College Honorary Degree," was written by the Rev. Kenneth Himes. . . .
"On the levels of both moral principle and practical moral judgment, Secretary Rice's approach to international affairs is in fundamental conflict with Boston College's commitment to the values of the Catholic and Jesuit traditions and is inconsistent with the humanistic values that inspire the university's work," the letter said.

Looks like Rev. Himes flunked Moral Theology on his way to getting the dubious post of chairing the BC Theology Dept. Or maybe he's just a shallow, jesuitical thinker. And as a final fillip, the following sentence was in the AP article concerning the Condy Rice article:

The theology department said nearly 100 have signed it, but declined to release their names, The Boston Globe reported Wednesday.

Given Himes' transparent insincerity and lack of moral principle, should we take it on his word that "nearly 100 have signed it?"