Scranton Catholic University Faces Criticism for Hiring Former Sen. Bob Casey Jr.
Pro-life Catholics question decision to honor politician with pro-abortion voting record.
SCRANTON, PA — The University of Scranton, a private Catholic institution, recently announced that former U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr., a three-term Democrat, will serve this fall as the Leahy Distinguished Fellow in Public Service. Casey, who lost re-election in 2024, will mentor students, advise the school’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service, and lead lectures on topics such as ethics, health care, and government accountability.
The move has sparked backlash from pro-life Catholics who point to Casey’s pro-abortion voting record. Critics argue that the university is compromising its Catholic mission by honoring a politician who once identified as pro-life but later abandoned the label.
University president Rev. Joseph Marina praised Casey’s Jesuit background, stating that his values will enrich the campus community. Casey himself emphasized the importance of ethics in public service, saying Catholics should bring their values “to the public square.”
However, local residents and alumni contend his political career tells another story. Letters to the editor and opinion pieces accuse him of betraying pro-life principles for political expediency, contrasting him with his late father, pro-life Gov. Bob Casey Sr.
The controversy comes despite the university’s past efforts to underscore its pro-life commitments, including ending coverage of elective abortions in its employee health plans in 2015 and supporting an active pro-life club on campus.
