Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) released the following statement today in reaction to the passing of Father Robert Drinan:

“We have lost a gifted and inspiring educator, church leader and human rights champion.  Father Drinan was my dean at Boston College Law School and my moral compass in the U.S. Congress.  When I arrived in Congress, Father Drinan was already serving as the conscience of the House of Representatives with every vote he cast.  It was an honor to serve with him and to seek his guidance and advice on issues such as halting the spread of nuclear weapons, mitigating the plight of Soviet Jews, and protecting the rights of political prisoners.  He was a man of faith who never stopped searching for truth, and he was a committed educator who stayed true to his faith.  The world has lost a bright star in the moral firmament, and I have lost a special friend."