Priest who served as senator dies

WASHINGTON – The Rev. Robert Drinan, a Jesuit who – over the objections of his superiors – became the first Roman Catholic priest to serve as a voting member of Congress, died Sunday at the Georgetown University Jesuit Community, where he lived.

Drinan, 86, had suffered from pneumonia and congestive heart failure during the previous 10 days, according to a statement by Georgetown University.

An internationally known human-rights advocate, Drinan represented Massachusetts in the U.S. House for 10 years during the 1970s, and he stepped down only after a worldwide directive from Pope John Paul II barring priests from holding public office.