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An Old Gerry Connolly Story
By Greg L | 2 September 2007 | Fairfax County | 33 Comments
The other evening I heard am amusing story, and I’m wondering if anyone out there can confirm it.
As the story goes, Gerry Connolly met his wife while he was attending catholic seminary in preparation for becoming a priest. His wife, who was a nun at the time, and Gerry Connolly were both removed at the same time, possibly after being caught engaging in inappropriate behavior at the seminary. While Connolly claims that he left the seminary because of his views on the Vietnam War (as if the catholic church at the time was a big player in the pro-Vietnam War movement at the time), this story, if true, seems to more adequately explain his decision to leave the seminary.
It might also shed some light on his leadership, for lack of a better term, in Fairfax County. Any thoughts?
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33 Comments
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I’m having a hard time understanding how this relates to the primary concerns of this blog. Are you saying that if Connolly lied about his reasons for leaving the seminary years ago, he’s apt to be lying now to the citizens of Fairfax county?
JM,
As you know by now Greg, I agree with you on most things. But I do have a few concerns about this post.
The word Catholic should be capitalized when referring to the church. The “c” is lower case only when the word is used as a synonym for “universal.”
Was Connelly asked to leave or did he choose to leave? People leave seminary for all kinds of reasons, and generally there is no shame in deciding seminary is not for you. Being told to leave is another, more serious matter.
Most people are not aware of this, but nuns and monks are not ordained, and thus do not make a lifetime commitment to Holy Orders. They join because they have a calling, but can leave any time they feel they have completed the mission God has chosen for them. No stigma is attached to anyone who chooses to leave their order.
I’ll admit that leaving the seminary and the order at the same time looks suspicious. However it is possible they simply felt an attraction to one another and decided religious life was not for them. The church attaches no stigma to that, if that is all that happened. If they did engage in inappropriate or sinful conduct, it is a matter between the two of them and their confessors. Once a proper confession is made, there is no sanction against them. They could have even remained in their postitions and would only be asked to leave if the conduct continued.
You may or may not be right, but rumor mongering is an ugly thing. Also, I will not judge a such a private matter that does not concern any of us.
Guess you never heard of the Berrigan brothers, who were both Catholic priests (at the time) and big time antiwar demonstrators. And down here in Richmond, the priests were preaching against the war from the pulpit.
Greg:
Your willingness to engage routinely in publishing unsubstantiated rumors and gossip when the subject suits your political persuasion and you think that it will “score” political points for you or drive traffic to your site undermines your ability to offer yourself as a credible source on any topic.
Shame on you.
Claire Gastanaga
I know both Gerry and Steve. They are unarguably different people, yet both have done an immeasurable amount of good for constituent services (I live in Fairfax County and in Steve’s district). There are fellow constituents who may disagree with me, but there are many residents who do agree. Will let the results of the upcoming election validate my argument.
I am also a devout Catholic. We live Catholicism in our household while also living the American dream through work, community service, and giving. We don’t try to throw our religion around and we don’t fault others for how they live their lives, and neither do millions of other American Catholics. Sure, there are the Santorum’s of politics, but where are they know? You get the picture?
We are also Democrats in the community. As my Grandfather and my mother worked for Democratic causes in Colorado since 1936, and as my wife’s family helped to support decades of Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania, we now live in Northern Virginia to do what we can to help turn Virginia blue. Our children, God willing, will be the 4th generation of Catholic Democrats. Fairness, a safe work environment, equal opportunity, the right to faith; Social Justice is what we will teach our children to behave in society—something Republican leaders and elected officials try to embrace but more often fault.
So your ugliness of self-righteousness, along with an anonymous poster attempting to taint the perception of Steve, is completely absurd. Without any thought of moral value, you throw out an idea that may hurt a family, and indirectly hurt another family.
As a Catholic, any discussion of Seminary work—regardless of success—should always be treated as an individual opportunity. Whether one joins or goes on to live as a mother or a father is a win-win situation for our community. To throw around the perception of ‘shame’ or ‘lying’ is not only insulting to the opportunity for Seminary work, but also to the children and grandchildren who live because their parent(s) and grandparent(s) chose family.
I know many wonderful mothers and fathers who considered joining, but instead have raised wonderful children and grandchildren. Many of them live here, and even one family are parishioners at All Saints in Manassas. How ironic that we were all together for Saturday Mass last month to celebrate an event.
Your attempt to smear someone’s personal decision(s) many years ago through uncorroborated stories and/or innuendo is wrong and unnecessary. But please allow me to confess one final point: If Gerry told me 20 years ago that he left Seminary because “he did not like the food” or “he objected to a principle” or…any excuse—I would not have faulted him or thought less of him. Why? Because Seminary is about making a decision that most of us never think about or even want to consider. I sure never considered it, which makes me even more respectful and very sensitive to those who did consider but chose family instead.
Gerry has never hid the fact that he attended Seminary, and the fact that he is happily married and has a wonderful family demonstrates that he made the right decision.
And leaving up that comment about Steve’s parents? You have no idea how wonderfully important those parents have been to their children, grandchildren, and their community. Leaving that comment up solidifies an impression that you choose smear over debate.
Bill Felmlee
Vienna, Virginia
Hello Me? To be fair to Greg, he said exactly the opposite of what you are countering with your comments on the Berrigan bros. Greg said:
(as if the catholic church at the time was a big player in the pro-Vietnam War movement at the time),
Note the word PRO.
I have no knowledge of this person, but I wish GL would only report facts not rumors when it comes to individual’s lives and reputations.
Eeek. Please let that apost migrate.
Bill F. -
Question: How can you be a practicing Catholic and support the Demoncrats’ platform on Pro-Choice?
Wow, Bill, how could you?
But wait, I thought there were pro-choice Republicans, Catholics included, who live with their party’s platform and its call for a Constitutional Amendment that would ban virtually all abortions. And I also thought there were pro-life Democrats, Catholics included, who live with their party’s platform and its call for women’s reproductive choice. I thought some of these folks were rather famous, running for President even. I also thought there was even an organization, Catholics for a Free Choice, with their own website who construct careful humanitarian arguments in favor of abortion rights.
My mistake.
First, it is completely undocumented that the Connolly’s broke their vows or are guilty of any wrong doing whatsoever.
Gerry Connolly and Corey Stewart are known contenders for the 11th Congressional seat. If this is the best “worst” story about Connolly then Corey Stewart will get his nose bloodied in that race.
GOP Committee members need to get a back bone and run Stewart, Kopko, and Gill out of town. On the other hand perhaps Stewart is less dangerous as Chairman than in Congress.
Republicans in Prince William will NEVER forget Stewarts RELENTLESS support for FAISAL GILL. STEWART supports TERRORIST.
It’s only a matter of time until the truth will be told.
Leila -
I’ll be sure to address a question to you by beginning it with “Leila”…. I was addressing Bill.
And I wasn’t addressing you MCR, I was addressing Bill as well. And Bill wasn’t addressing you, MCR, he was writing to Greg. I hadn’t realized you were the BVBL post Police, probably because I hadn’t exactly seen you policing others who comment on posts not addressed to them. I must have missed that wave of policing by you. I’ll look for it in the future. Do you get a special uniform and all?
“Catholic Democrat” is an oxymoron these days — and has been since 1973 when Democratic leaders decided to push members of its middle- and working class constituency out of the party in favor “victims groups” that are compensated for their victimhood with the award of various preferments and special legal privileges.
For 35 years the Democratic party has vigilantly suppressed the influence of its Catholic members who disagree with this position. Many, including myself, have gotten the message and left.
Catholics who remained in the party have achieved nothing in terms of moderating such radical behavior. They have instead become what other minorities would call “self-haters” and Uncle Toms.
Catawba wrote:
“Catholics who remained in the party have achieved nothing in terms of moderating such radical behavior. They have instead become what other minorities would call “self-haters” and Uncle Toms.”
And the presidential nominees of their party apparently, since the last one was a Roman Catholic.
By the way, Catawba, are you including all the devout practicing Catholics of Latino background who happen to vote for or hold office in the Democratic Party? Are they, in their growing numbers, also an oxymoron, self-haters, and Uncle Toms? Or are you only calling a person a “Catholic Democrat” if they fit the profile of those who left the party in the period you specified, eg. the fabled “Reagan Democrats.”
Leila -
Wasn’t “policing” - was just honestly just asking Bill a question. Don’t read too much into it.
PS to Catawba, I’m curious how you feel about the fact that the Catholic Church in general, apart from abortion, holds political positions that depart radically from the Republican Party. How do you feel for example about the Church’s position on capital punishment or its deep and abiding involvement in the sanctuary movement?
Then my apologies, MCR. And I mean them.
Greg L - Gather round, children. Uncle Greg has an amusing story to tell you that he heard the other night. Now, Uncle Greg doesn’t usually tell you these kind of stories, but this is special, becuase there’s a moral to it.
Once upon a time there were two young people who attended school, a very special kind of school, where boys and girls were not allowed to be together. One day these two young people felt that they liked each other very much and wanted to be together, so they decided to start at a different school.
Well, children, Uncle Greg believes that they possibly were KICKED out after being caught in engaging in inappropriate behavior. I won’t tell what that was but you’ll understand when you get older. Anyway, the important thing about this story is, that when the boy grew up to be a man, and he became a rather important man, he was lacking leadership quality. What he did in school might have been the cause of this lack.
“But, Uncle Greg, how do you KNOW that that’s the reason”?
“Husch, children! When Uncle Greg says something is so, it IS so. Now off to bed with you and no more questions!”
OMG! Tell me it isn’t so. Let’s not let the topic of abortion rear its ugly head. It is not an argument anyone is going to win. People have their own views and it is highly unlikely anyone is going to be swayed over to another position on this blog.
Obviously a person can be a member of a political party without buying the party line hook, line, and sinker.
As for Mr. and Mrs. Connolly, their private life is simply none of my business.
MCR,
I am more or less sucking air that you asked Bill that question.
Why not just ask him what he did in bed with his wife last night. It is an equally personal question.
Shudder!!!
The post was bad. The comments worse.
You THINK this happened. This is utterly irresponsible if you expect to be taken seriously ever again.
Regarding the Catholic Church, here you go again…….all these ‘traditional’ experts.
Greg, Greg - What hast thou done? This is a most unfortunate subject. Extremely poor judgement! anon is absolutely correct. To base a whole line on an amusing (love that word and try to picture you saying it) story you heard and then draw unprovable conclusions from it is, or should be, beneath you. I’d totally stay away from religion if I were you.
Gerry Connely is a dry old turd that has been festering in the hot sun for too many hours. If this clown thinks he has a chance to win a house seat then he is sadddddlly mistaken. I work for the Fairfax Government and nobody I talk to likes him. They think he has pretty much run the county into a budget crisis of epic proportions. I can also assure you that there are no illegals in his neighborhood as he sits on his high horse and preaches about tolerance and religious values. Hey Gerry: Want to switch houses with me for a month? You’ll be singing a different tune THEN you hypocrite. People that use religion to push their own agenda make me sick. What a hypocrite jackass. HEE-HAWWWWW
I live in Fairfax and am not a Connolly fan, but I’ve never noticed a single instance in which his decision to leave seminary several decades ago has affected the quality of government services or adminstration that I receive for my tax dollars. Try as I may, I just can’t get a theological angle on this. My vote for Mr. Baise will be based on purely secular considerations.
Stewart vs Connolly, Stewart will get demolished for several reasons: liberal nature of Fairfax where the overwhelming # of precincts are; 2) Stewarts support of the Faisal Gill which has alienated his PWC Republican base. Prediction: Stewart 43%, Connolly 57%. So the Ds pick up this seat as well as the Senate seat presuming Warner runs against either Davis or Gilmore.
Harry: no one, especially Republicans, is seriously suggesting that Stewart should run against Connolly except Democrats. (for a lot or reasons, including the ones you mention).
…. Democrats and EVERY county employee!!
Thanks for censoring and deleting my comment from yesterday when I questioned the validity and dignity of this blog after raising this awful, unfounded issue and then in an entry earlier this week, claiming that only illegal aliens allegedly rape people. Excellent for the first amendment, right Greg L? Glad you can accept criticism when you toss crap on the wall like this seminary junk. You have no class. Your blog is a trumped up piece of a rag filled with rumor and speculation.
Gee, we were asked to checked Colgans site to see how many of our comments were removed. Who is counting on this site?????
So between this unfounded attack on Connolly and the KKK support for BVBL/HSM is this the beginning of a downward spiral??!!!!
So much fun…..
So, what is the worst thing that could have happened here - two people who were in seminary/nunnery met, fell in love and GOT MARRIED after leaving (either voluntarily or not) the church’s seminary/nunnery. This is sleaze and nothing but.
You know, it is just as likely that BVBL and NLS cooked this up during an “intimate discussion” they were having the other evening following this so-called “Happy Hour”, if you know what I mean…
Seems all the press attention as gone to Greg’s balding head…now he thinks he is a king-maker. Maybe in Manassas GOP circles, but not in the real world of Fairfax County. So sorry Brucie. EEEE AWWWW
Catholic were very supportive of the Vietnam war. Do your homework.