Nota bene: Ben Kessler

Ben Kessler set of a firestorm of controversy when he lambasted the selfishness of modern culture in his speech during commencement at Minnesota's University of St. Thomas.

Kessler is a Roman Catholic seminarian and student at the university. You can see part of his speech here, in which he criticized the culture of selfishness. Specifically he targeted the issues of contraception, cohabitation, and some sort of mischievous food fight that took place at the university.

Having spent several years eating in college cafeterias, I can say with verity that such food often makes for better projectiles and amusement than nourishment. I see little harm in a good ol' fashioned food fight once in a while.

The real issue is Kessler's attacking a culture of selfishness, and where better to start than in academia? College students too often spend more time exploring and indulging vices than they do learning. Heaven forbid one of their own point out that fact.

The most amusing critique of Kessler's speech came from a faculty member:

"Jill Manske, a professor of biology and former director of women's studies at St. Thomas, said that she worried that non-Catholics would 'perceive a shift to the right' at the university and might not feel welcome teaching or studying there."
-"A Commencement Turns Ugly," Inside Higher Ed, 5/24/06

Translation: she's afraid some would perceive the Catholic university is making a shift towards actual Catholicism. Forgive me, but I've no sympathy for folks who attend or teach at a Catholic university yet are confounded by the Catholic values it's supposed to espouse.

Some who are inclined to agree with the substance of Kessler's speech criticize its prudence. We're not among them. Prudence is overrated, and too often is the excuse that milquetoast bishops, priests, and lay leaders use to cover their cowardice. The time for half-measures and softspeak is over.

Kessler is studying for the CATHOLIC priesthood at a CATHOLIC university, and he stood up and spoke for CATHOLIC values (notice a theme here?). Facing criticism from a sackless clergy and university leadership, Kessler apologized for offending people. The real tragedy here is his apology, not his speech. Nonetheless, Ben Kessler earns a nota bene for his commendable stand for virtue and selflessness.

Various news sources ran stories on the event.