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Contents © 2001
by Jim Holman.
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TRADITIONAL JESUIT

By Fred Martinez

Father Stout says the 7:30 p.m. mass every Sunday at Our Lady of Peace Church in Santa Clara.

Q. Why did you want to be a priest?

A. I think the greatest influence was when I was 8 or 9 years old. I went to Catholic school and the German Jesuits were very kind and loving. The school was very poor. It was St. Mary's school, which used to be at 3rd and Reed Street in San Jose. It burned down in the 30s or early 40s.

Q. Why choose to be a Jesuit?

A. At the Jesuit High school, Bellermine, the Jesuit priests were great examples of service to God. I always connected with the Jesuit teachers...The Jesuits had a long history of seeking the best. They wanted to do more for the greater glory of God. They were men of learning, but with nobility. Ignatius was a military officer who wanted his Jesuits to be able to move. I didn't like the Franciscans because of their vow of stability. The Jesuits were different. They were to be like the Green Berets -- to be obedient to what God wanted. Some of the Jesuits have moved away from devotion to the pope. They are, now, into being "open." They think that is what speaks to modern man. For this reason the Jesuits are not as trusted by the Holy Father. The Jesuits are men of learning. Sometimes the smarter you are the more difficult it is to be humble. But, we shouldn't worry about it. Pope John XXIII would pray then, say, "I'm going to bed. I trust God."

Q. Tell us about teaching in the toughest school in San Jose -- Overfelt High?

A. We had desired to have a Catholic high school in Eastside San Jose. But, in 1984 no Catholic school had been built; so, I proposed to the Jesuit provincial that I get employed at Overfelt in math. I wanted to help the Hispanic kids with problems in English. The Overfelt riots give a false representation of the kids at the school. If they like you, they like you -- if they don't like you, you are in trouble. The problem is, students now come from broken homes with family problems and drugs. They don't see direction or see the need to study. With the loss of the Mexican culture -- they lose the politeness and kindness of Mexico. Many don't go to church or join religious groups.

Q. Who are the heroes of many of these kids?

A. The heroes are, many times, the criminal gangs. The gangs provide for the vacuum the family used to provide. They provide approval, direction, protection and a sense of belonging. These people become their family. The gangs are dealers in death. I told the gangs I didn't respect them. They carved their gang letters into my car window. I left it there so everyone could see what they were about. They don't build. They deal with death and destruction. But, so long as kids lack parents with religion or lack parents who are home for them there will be problems.

Q. With anti-family and homosexual indoctrination in the public schools, what advice do you give to parents?

A. The only solution is for the family to do their job and some do. They are home for their children and give them religion. Others are far from religion; and both parents are working so their children lack parents being home. Some mothers have boyfriends! I'm too traditional -- I don't understand. My mom was paralyzed for 10 years and my dad went out to see her every day for 10 years. He would talk to her -- you could tell she understood by her eyes looking at him. Parents must live their message! A loving couple will do more than any book. They must sacrifice their pride for each other and offer it to God.

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