Robert F. Drinan, S.J., is perhaps best known as the politician-priest who served in the House of Representatives from 1970 until 1980. In his new biography [2], excerpted in the March 7 issue, Raymond A. Schroth, S.J., examines Fr. Drinan's career in Congress, including his unscheduled retirement at the behest of Pope John Paul II. (Listen to Fr. Schroth discuss his book [3].)

In addition to his career as a politician, Drinan was  a sharp legal mind and a widely respected commentator on world affairs, a role that he honed in over 170 articles for America. Dating from 1946, when he was a Jesuit scholastic, Fr. Drinan's reviews and essays for the "Jesuit weekly" mark him as one of the magazine's most prolific contributers. Here we offer a selection of his writings.

"Saint Joseph: Exemplar of Workmen," [4] May 4, 1946 (pdf)

"The Supreme Court Confronts Segregation," [5] March 25, 1950 (pdf)

"The Weeping Madonna of Sicily," [6] May 28, 1955 (pdf)

"Prayer in the Public School," [7] October 17, 1959 (pdf)

"Strategy on Abortion," [8] February 4, 1967 (pdf)

"Children's Rights," [9] January 10, 1970 (pdf)

"A Global Revolution for Children," [10] March 27, 1999 (pdf)

"Preaching Social Justice in Homilies," [11] February 12, 2001