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Only two priests ever elected to serve in Congress

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

The U.S. House of Representatives with 435 members ranks as one of the nation's most exclusive clubs. More exclusive yet are members who are Catholic priests. There have been only two since the first Congress in 1789.

The first - Jesuit Fr. Robert Drinan (D-Mass.) - died Jan. 28. The second - Norbertine Fr. Robert Cornell (D-Wis.) - lives at St. Norbert Abbey, De Pere.

Fr. Cornell represented Wisconsin's 8th District - which includes the Green Bay and Appleton areas - from January 1975 until January 1979.

That makes him the only Democrat "in the history of the 8th District to serve more than one term," Fr. Cornell said Feb. 1 in a phone interview.

The 87-year-old Fr. Cornell remains mentally sharp despite heart and breathing problems that necessitated a move from St. Joseph Priory on the St. Norbert College campus to the abbey where nursing care is available.

Fr. Cornell and Fr. Drinan, who represented his state's 3rd District from 1971 to 1981, served together for four years.

Fr. Drinan was "a great advocate of human rights and social justice," Fr. Cornell said. "I think he'll always be remembered for his statements in regard to issues of that nature."

When he first came to Congress Fr. Cornell said he looked to Fr. Drinan for guidance on how he should dress.

"I asked older and newer members about whether I should wear clerical garb and usually they responded, 'Wear whatever you feel comfortable wearing. One of the things you need here is identification and clerical garb gives you identification,'" Fr. Cornell recalled. "I went ahead and wore clerical garb because Bob Drinan did."

Fr. Drinan's decision to live with the other Jesuits at the faculty house at Georgetown University also impressed Fr. Cornell. He contrasted that with another Jesuit, John McLaughlin, a speech writer for Pres. Richard Nixon, who lived in the Watergate complex.

Fr. Cornell said Fr. Drinan tried to influence his vote only once "when I voted against a bill the Israel lobby wanted. I could understand his position because he came from a suburban Boston district that was largely Jewish."

Differed on one issue

"But other than that, we never really discussed legislation because, when it came to issues such as civil rights and things of that nature, we generally agreed," Fr. Cornell said - except on abortion.

"I always voted consistently for the strongest form of the Hyde Amendment to forbid federal funds for abortion no matter what was involved," Fr. Cornell said. "One of the arguments on the floor was 'If someone was raped the abortion was justified' and I couldn't see that. It was a human being right from the very beginning, regardless of how the baby was conceived."

While Fr. Drinan "was sincerely opposed to abortion," Fr. Cornell said, "he kind of took the legalistic view that if the wealthy could have abortions, the poor should be able to have them too."

Fr. Drinan was well respected in Congress, Fr. Cornell said, and last year was one of four former members to receive the Congressional Distinguished Service Award.

Fr. Cornell said he had only seen Fr. Drinan twice - both times in Washington - since 1979. They last spoke about two years ago when Fr. Drinan and other former colleagues called to wish him well because of his physical problems.

Politics ended in 1980

Both priests' political careers ended in 1980 during election campaigns.

Fr. Pedro Arrupe, Jesuit superior general, told Fr. Drinan he couldn't run again at "the express wish" of Pope John Paul II.

Fr. Cornell, who had lost to Toby Roth in the 1978 general election, was trying to win the seat back when Green Bay Bp. Aloysius Wycislo told him he had to withdraw because of a papal decree he had received from the apostolic delegate.

Fr. Cornell pulled out of the race on May 6, 1980 - one day after Fr. Drinan withdrew from his race.

"There was a lot of dispute over whether there was a papal decree," Fr. Cornell said. "I don't think there was until the new code of canon law took effect in 1983. But it was evident that the pope was opposed to priests serving in legislative bodies."

Both priests returned to the classroom - Fr. Drinan to the Georgetown University Law Center and Fr. Cornell to history and political science classes at St. Norbert College.

Retired six years ago

Fr. Cornell retired six years ago for health reasons, when he also had to give up assisting at parishes on weekends.

"I always felt there wasn't much difference between teaching - I taught history and political science for 61 years - and serving as a legislator," Fr. Cornell said. "Obviously there were people who disagreed with me."

From his room at the abbey, Fr. Cornell maintains his interest in politics. He reported receiving a few calls from Rep. Steve Kagen, a Democrat, who in November won the 8th District seat Fr. Cornell had once held.

What advice did he have for Kagen?

"I told him that whatever he promised during the campaign he needed to emphasize now," Fr. Cornell said. "I wrote one article supporting him because of his stand on health care and he's already spoken on the floor in regard to that. As a physician it's understandable that he would be interested in that issue, though not necessarily take the stand he did."

Fr. Cornell also continues to speak out on the issues in a monthly letter to the editor of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

"Unfortunately, I find that quite a few people who communicate with me afterward don't have a sense of humor," Fr. Cornell said. "I do not have strong feelings against people of the other party, but they think I do."

Lack of civility in nation

He laments a lack of civility in both the nation and Congress and said he hopes that Democrats will work with Republicans in the House and Senate.

While he won't make any predictions about the 2008 presidential election, he said it looks good right now for Democrats, but cautions that could change quickly.

Looking back, Fr. Cornell said he enjoyed being in Congress - except for lobbyists.

"One thing I can say honestly is that I avoided lobbyists in general. The first person who stopped in my congressional office was a lobbyist. I got quite upset with him and escorted him out because he offered me a gift and a gift for the order," Fr. Cornell said. "I was angry, but I didn't show it."

Other than that, Congress was a great experience, he said. "Everyday it was something different. There always were some new issues."