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In All Things

Jesuit to Pray at GOP Convention

James Martin, S.J.August 26, 2008

Not to be outdone by the Democratic Conventioneers, who have asked Sister Catherine Pinkerton to lead them in prayer, the Republican National Committee announced this today:

Father Edward A. Reese, S.J., president of Brophy Prep in Phoenix, will give the opening invocation at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul on September 3. Two sons of Cindy and John McCain went to Brophy Prep, and Mrs. McCain is a member of Brophy’s board of regents.  Son Jimmy joined the Marines and served in Iraq while Jack went to the Naval Academy.
 
"The McCains have been generous supporters of Brophy," said Father Reese. "I am also pleased by his support of vouchers for Catholic schools like Brophy."
 
When asked if he was endorsing McCain for president, Father Reese responded, "Catholic priests should pray for anyone and everyone, but I don’t think we should endorse or campaign for political candidates."

Father Edward Reese is the brother of Thomas J. Reese, former editor of America and senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University. Both are Jesuit priests.

James Martin, S.J.
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16 years 10 months ago
My sister Theresa went to Xavier Preparatory in Phoenix which is the school for girls next door to Brophy Prep. I hope in his prayer, Fr. Reese mentions the need for a more just immigration system. I am Chicano so it is one of my political priorities. I am delighted that a Jesuit is offering a prayer at one of the Conventions. I have never lived in Phoenix but I often go there to visit my sister who does live there. My sister is a Democrat and her husband is a Republican. In San Francisco where I live, it would be very unusual to have this kind of a mix marriage. Virtually everybody who lives in San Francisco is a Democrat. God bless all of us! Michael
16 years 10 months ago
In the the game of political prayer poker, I guess a Jesuit trumps a Josephite. Will the Democrats see their Josephite and raise an Archbishop?

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