“All of a sudden, something began to stir within me, something began to push me, to prompt me. It was a movement that spoke like a voice. “What are you waiting for?” it said. –Thomas Merton

Dear Friends,

As advocates for justice, we are compelled to listen, really listen, to the voice within us that asks Thomas Merton's poignant question, "What are you waiting for?" 

Merton’s entreaty is an urgent call for us to resist the recent attacks on the rule of law and our democratic way of life, and to remain true to our best selves, our Jesuit values, and our beloved law school community. Together, let us stand up for the dignity and worth of every human being, hear the cry of the earth, the poor, the unhoused, and the displaced, celebrate the wondrous diversity of divine creation, and accompany one another in creating a hope-filled future. Let us perhaps, most of all, incarnate the late Pope’s fundamental teaching that love is the ultimate source for good. 

Stirred by the voice within us, let us not wait for justice; let us actively build a more loving,  just, and humane world together.

With abiding love and gratitude,

Michael J. Kaufman (He/Him/His)
Dean and Professor of Law
Santa Clara University School of Law
mjkaufman@scu.edu