January 28, 2007
Fr. Drinan S.J. RIP
WASHINGTON -- The Rev. Robert Drinan, a Jesuit who - over the objections of his superiors - was the only Roman Catholic priest elected as a voting member of Congress, died Sunday.
Drinan, 86, had suffered from pneumonia and congestive heart failure during the previous 10 days, according to a statement by Georgetown University which said he died at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington.
Former Massachusetts Rep. Father Robert Drinan holds up a copy of the 1974 impeachment report of President Nixon while testifying on Capitol Hill before the House Judiciary Committee's impeachment hearing in this Dec. 8, 1998 file photo. Drinan, a Jesuit who - over the objections of his superiors - became the first Roman Catholic priest to serve as a voting member of Congress, died Sunday. . (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Former Massachusetts Rep. Father Robert Drinan holds up a copy of the 1974 impeachment report of President Nixon while testifying on Capitol Hill before the House Judiciary Committee's impeachment hearing in this Dec. 8, 1998 file photo. Drinan, a Jesuit who - over the objections of his superiors - became the first Roman Catholic priest to serve as a voting member of Congress, died Sunday.
"His death was peaceful, and he was surrounded by his family," said the Rev. John Langan, rector of the Georgetown University Jesuit Community where Drinan lived.
I can't say my immediate reaction was to pray for him, but I will pray for him.
Posted by Jeff Miller at January 28, 2007 11:25 PM | TrackBackI can't say my immediate reaction was to pray for him, but I will pray for him.
Huh?
Posted by Literacy-chic email at January 28, 2007 11:41 PMLiteracy-chic,
My reaction was based on his long term abortion support and the fact that he was the one that advised Gov. Cuomo with the "Personally opposed, but..." line. He was a dissenter that went against both the orders off his order and the Vatican when it came to running for political office. I was only expressing my initial personal reaction to the news.
Posted by Jeff Miller email at January 28, 2007 11:49 PMWho will now guide the democratic party on matters relating to Holy Mother Church??
Posted by Central Valley Catholic email at January 29, 2007 12:21 AMThat helps! :)
Posted by Literacy-chic email at January 29, 2007 12:59 AMEr. . . Well. . . That helps. :(
Posted by Literacy-chic email at January 29, 2007 1:01 AMIn 1980 Pope John Paul II ordered Drinan to vacate his seat in Congress. In 1996 Drinan spoke out in favor of Bill Clinton's veto of the partial birth abortion ban. He also was an advisor on religious affairs to John Kerry during his 2004 presidential campaign. And in 2007 he was celebrant to a mass honoring Nancy Pelosi.
To quote Fr. Neuhaus, "a Jesuit who, more than any other single figure, has been influential in tutoring Catholic politicians on the acceptability of rejecting the Church’s teaching on the defense of innocent human life."
Posted by Christopher email at January 29, 2007 1:17 AMWhile I am saddenned at his death & am trying hard not to judge, I know he will have a lot to answer for. Why, to quote your quote of Fr. Neuhaus: He was "a Jesuit who, more than any other single figure, has been influential in tutoring Catholic politicians on the acceptability of rejecting the Church’s teaching on the defense of innocent human life."
On the other hand, I can't help but wonder where my paisan Dante Alighieri would have him located if he were writing his Divine Comedy today.
Posted by Al email at January 29, 2007 1:40 AMRequiescat in pace. I truly hope he received the grace of final repentance.
Posted by Margaret email at January 29, 2007 2:30 AMWhat Margaret said. May he be safely with the Loard and at peace.
Posted by Bob the Ape email at January 29, 2007 6:02 AM"Lord".
Posted by Bob the Ape email at January 29, 2007 6:03 AMI believe it was The Curt Jester who said something to the effect of, "Having the Fr. Robert Drinan Human Rights Chair is a lot like having a Judas Chair of Finance." Requiescat In Pace.
Posted by LCB email at January 29, 2007 8:49 AMCurt Jester, you're an honest man! I said I'd pray for him on my blog, but I didn't mention the sigh of relief which first escaped my lips that Fr. Drinan would no longer offend God publicly.
Posted by leticia email at January 29, 2007 10:28 AMMaybe while we're praying for his soul, we should ask him to pray for the reversal of Roe vs Wade. If anyone has a vested interest, that would probably be Fr Drinan...
Posted by joanne email at January 29, 2007 11:00 AMOn the other hand, I can't help but wonder where my paisan Dante Alighieri would have him located if he were writing his Divine Comedy today.
Al, I believe Dante would have put him in the 9th circle, in the 8th(?) bolgia, with the priests in their heavy gold vestments. Stepping on Caiaphas every time they go 'round.
Posted by Paul, Just This Guy, You Know? email at January 29, 2007 2:05 PM"I can't say my immediate reaction was to pray for him, but I will pray for him"
I am sure he prayed for folks like though Jeff - as do I.
Posted by Eamon email at January 29, 2007 8:25 PMYes, or perhaps in Purgatory, on his way to Heaven. One of Dante's themes is that surprising people turn up there, such as Manfred (Purg. III, the late-repentant), who died excommunicate, but prayed to Our Lady with his last breath.
(For the record, I'm second to none in finding Drinan annoying and destructive.)
Posted by cacciaguida email at January 29, 2007 8:29 PMMy 1st reaction - I'll bet he got pneumonia marching in the cold at the Right to Life March in Washington last week - NOT!
Posted by nan email at January 30, 2007 7:16 AMYes, we should pray for his soul. We should also pray that we don't buy into anything told to us by the Father of Lies -- and that includes schadenfreude.
I don't think anybody can doubt that our country's priests and religious were under a lot of spiritual, psychological, and intellectual assault back in the day, and even now; and the Jesuits probably most of all. If those of here in the comment boxes had been subjected to all that, who knows how we would have ended up and what crazy things we would have done? As Jesus advised, let's pray that we're not put to the test.
Posted by Maureen email at January 30, 2007 7:48 AMSchaden freude? Was ist das?
Posted by joanne email at January 30, 2007 1:06 PMI'm sure he needs prayers. I can't presume to judge his soul--only God can do that--but I have a strong suspicion that he might be facing some a long stretch in purgatory. His actions and pro-abortion votes in Congress certainly helped further the culture of death.
I'm re-reading parts of John Paul's "The Gospel of Life." He has strong words for politicians like Drinan. He said "In the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to 'take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law or vote for it.'" (N. 73)
And "Civil leaders...have a duty to make courageous choices in support of life, especially through legislative measures." (n. 90).
Drinan even supported partial-birth abortion
Posted by Sr. Lorraine email at January 31, 2007 5:07 PMNow i'm stumped. Is it okay to offer Mass for someone whose name might scandalize the parishioners? In such a case should the intention be somewhat veiled (ie, for Fr Robert, or Fr D) or should it be more specific "For the repose of the soul of..."
I have visions of people walking OUT of the Mass because they are just not ready to pray for pro-abortion priest.