Rev. Robert Drinan, S.J, former dean of Boston College Law School, died yesterday at the age of 86 after suffering from pneumonia and congestive heart failure for the past ten days. Drinan, a devoted member of the Jesuit community, was the first Catholic priest ever elected to Congress. The cleric-turned-Congressman filed the first impeachment resolution against President Richard M. Nixon.
Many saw Drinan's entering of Congress as a detraction from his calling as a priest. In response, his supporters adopted "Our father, who art in Congress" as their unofficial slogan. Drinan fought for federal funding of abortions and opposed amendments that sought to ban abortion and prayer in public schools.
Though he was forced to leave Congress in 1980 after the Pope told him he had to chose between priesthood and his office, Drinan continued to live a fulfilled life as a musician, lawyer, peace activist, and professor.
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