By Kathryn Walters |
Senator Patrick Leahy visited campus today to deliver his lecture, “How Faith Can Inform and Enhance Public Service” in Buckley Center Auditorium.
Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont, has served in the U.S. Senate since 1974, making him the current longest-serving senator. He is also the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, which means he is the highest-ranking senator and third in the presidential line of succession.
In his lecture, Leahy said his Catholic faith strengthens his commitment to serve others through his office.
“Faith helps us see the bigger picture, it propels us to serve others,” he said. “Faith invites us to be surrogates for the oppressed, the hungry, and faith values allow us to give voice to those in the political process and to achieve those goals.”
Leahy is known for his commitment to eliminating landmine use and manufacturing as well as his promotion of human rights through the Leahy Law, which mandates cutting U.S. funding to foreign leaders that have been revealed to violate the human rights of their own people.
Leahy also said many initiatives of his in the Senate, like immigration reform, have been supported by Congress members of all religious denominations, which shows how unifying faith can be in a political sphere.
“We had a faith community, which was absolutely essential in getting that through,” he said.
Senior Rebecca Larrabee, who attended the lecture, appreciates Leahy’s willingness to work with all members of Congress, regardless of political or religious affiliation.
“I was surprised at how open he was to different ideas and how he was so willing to work with both sides,” she said. “Also his strong emphasis on human rights, the fact that he doesn’t care where you come from or your personal beliefs, that we’re all human and all deserve the same equality.”
