| Diocesan News

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

Father 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," Father Cornell said in a phone interview.

The 87-year-old Father 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.

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

Father Drinan was "a great advocate of human rights and social justice," Father 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 Father Cornell said he looked to Father 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,'" Father Cornell recalled. "I went ahead and wore clerical garb because Bob Drinan did."

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

Father Cornell said Father 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," Father 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," Father 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 Father Drinan "was sincerely opposed to abortion," Father 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."

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

Father Cornell said he had only seen Father Drinan twice - both times in Washington - since 1979. They last spoke about two years ago when Father 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.

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

Father 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.

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

"There was a lot of dispute over whether there was a papal decree," Father 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 - Father Drinan to the Georgetown University Law Center and Father Cornell to history and political science classes at St. Norbert College.

Retired six years ago

Father 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," Father Cornell said. "Obviously there were people who disagreed with me."

From his room at the abbey, Father Cornell maintains his interest in politics. He reported receiving a few calls from Rep. Steve Kagen, a Democrat, ...