Laila Bearden, a sophomore television writing and production major, was first introduced to Father Gregory Boyle’s work during her freshman year of college after reading his book, “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion” in her honors forum class last year. Since then, Bearden has looked up to Boyle as a strong role model for compassion and sympathy.

“(Boyle) has ideals of how compassion should be infinite and how it should be spread to everyone — even people who have been to prison and who have unfortunately seen the darker sides of the world,” Bearden said. “I feel like that's such an important message, especially in our community.”

Tonight (Nov. 12) at 5 p.m. in Musco Center for the Arts, Boyle will visit Chapman University to discuss the intersection of faith and justice in his work in a presentation called “Faith that does Justice.” Tickets are $25 each, and the event is open to the general public.

In addition to working in a parish as a Jesuit priest, Boyle is founder and director of Los Angeles-based Homeboy Industries, the world's largest non-profit gang-intervention and rehabilitation program.

“Often times we stray away from those who have less than us, those who have disobeyed the law or (those who) have done things that we would deem them as bad people, but really, (Boyle’s) message is there's no such thing as a bad person, (and) there's no such thing as someone who does not deserve love, compassion and support from their community,” Bearden told The Panther.

In regard to incorporating Boyle’s ideas within the Chapman community, Bearden said there’s still more to do. 

“I definitely feel like there's a bit of a disconnect in compassion at our campus, (like) the SGA (Student Government Association) posters getting taken down and other racist messages being spread around campus,” Bearden said. “A lesson we can learn from Father Boyle is to have more compassion. I know (for) myself as well as others, especially in the time of COVID-19, it's really important to be a community and to stick together.”

When asked about how to bring ideals of compassion to Chapman, Boyle emphasized creating a community that cherishes and lifts up others.

“The baseline is we belong to each other, and everybody is unshakably good,” Boyle said in a  pre-interview with Bearden before the event. “If somebody presents in a way that’s racist or (they present) as a white supremacist, these are not healthy, whole or well people. None of us are whole until all of us are whole.”

Carmichael Peters, director of the University Honors Program — which is hosting tonight’s event, has been with Chapman since 2007. Peters told The Panther the program invites a special guest to campus every year, with recent guests including political activist Angela Davis and professional athlete John Carlos. 

This year, Peters decided to invite Boyle to continue the theme of speakers who talk about areas in society where significant failure has occurred. 

“I’m hoping that Greg (will) be such an inspiring example for people at Chapman, and that they (will) aspire to do the kind of things that he has done with his life,” Peters said. “The realization that there are causes and issues greater than ourselves that are worthy of our lives' dedication — that's my hope.”