Father Robert Drinan, one of Massachusett's most beloved political and clerical figures, has died at the age of 86.A Jesuit priest who served for a time as the Dean of Boston College Law School, Father Drinan was the only active priest ever to serve in Congress. He was elected in 1970 on an anti-war platform (beating John Kerry in the Democratic primary) and served for 10 years, until the Vatican told him to chose between Congress and the priesthood. During his tenure he was an active anti-war activist, was the first member of Congress to call for the impeachment of Richard Nixon (for bombing Cambodia), and voted for public funding for abortions. After leaving Congress he served for a time as president of Americans for Democratic Action, and had been teaching at Georgetown University until a few months ago.
He will be missed.
6 comments:
Jeeze. First, Barbaro. Then, Drinan. And I hear Molly Ivins isn't doing well either. Dark days, Colonel, dark days.
Oh no, what's up with Molly? I hope she'll hang on until Shrub gets drummed out of office...
She's had breast cancer, which now reportedly has mestasizied, spreading throughout her body. Last I heard she was hospitalized in Austin.
Wow, a progressive catholic. That's an oddity these days.
Catalyst- oh shit.
Mike- yes, and it was even odder in the 70s. The word is that it was Father Drinan's pissing off the Vatican that led to the worldwide edict that no priest could serve as an elected official.
Colonel - She still has her sense of humor, though. I read a story about her that said she had kept her return to chemotherapy quiet for two months because, as she put it: "I don't need another casserole!"
Post a Comment