Priest who presided over Biden’s inaugural mass resigns from university post after investigation

A Jesuit priest who presided over President’s Biden inaugural mass resigned from his post as University President over allegations of inappropriate conversations with graduate students. 

In an announcement Wednesday, Santa Clara University in Northern California said Father Kevin O’Brien had notified the school’s board of trustees that he will resign from his post on Sunday and that the board accepted his resignation. 

Acting University President Lisa Kloppenberg in the statement asked for “grace and space” for everyone on campus following the news.

“I humbly ask everyone to give each other grace and space as we collectively absorb the news of Father O’Brien’s resignation,” Kloppenberg said in the statement.  “I am grateful that you will stay focused on your responsibilities to our students, other stakeholders and each other as we finish out this academic year and continue preparations for a return to campus in the fall.” 

John M. Sobrato, the school’s chair of the board of trustees, said in a previous statement that O’Brien was placed on leave in March after an investigation found that he had “engaged in behaviors, consisting primarily of conversations, during a series of informal dinners with Jesuit graduate students that were inconsistent with established Jesuit protocols and boundaries.” 

According to Bloomberg, O’Brien had begun a therapeutic outpatient program to address personal issues, including alcohol and stress counseling.

O’Brien gave the service for Biden and Vice President Harris, as well as other elected officials, in January before the inauguration. 

The Bidens have known O’Brien for 15 years, dating back to his time at Georgetown University, according to Bloomberg.