Law Alum Podesta Honored for Public Service John Podesta (L'76) received the 2009 Robert F. Drinan, S.J., Law Alumni Public Service Award at an Oct. 1 celebration of those who best exemplify the school's commitment to civic engagement and public service -- the Law Center's alumni, faculty, students and staff.
Podesta, the president and chief executive officer of the Center for American Progress, also serves on the Law Center faculty as a distinguished visitor from practice and has held numerous positions in government including White House chief of staff to former President Bill Clinton (F'68). Most recently, he served as a co-chair of the transition team for President Barack Obama.
The Drinan award, created in 1996, honors law alumni whose careers enhance human dignity and advance justice. The award was named for the late Rev. Robert Drinan (L'49, L'51), who in his 86 years of life built an inspiring career in public service through his roles of priest, U.S. congressman, Georgetown law professor, author, scholar and human rights activist. Drinan died in 2007.
"Both men share a commitment to conscience, to dedication, to working for justice, to law," said Georgetown President John J. DeGioia, who presented Podesta with the award. "They saw that success was not in serving the most powerful, but rather in championing those most in need."
In his brief remarks, Podesta noted that the commitment to public interest is part of what sets a Georgetown law education apart from the rest.
"At Georgetown, we work hard to master not only the nuances of the law, we study how to use the law to reach the higher goal of justice," he said. "In search of that goal, we embrace the unique relationship between centuries of legal tradition and centuries of Jesuitical search for higher truths and true service."
Link (here)
Read John Podesta's comments on Fr. Drinan and his reflection on receiving the award (here)
John Podesta on abortion:
Podesta, the president and chief executive officer of the Center for American Progress, also serves on the Law Center faculty as a distinguished visitor from practice and has held numerous positions in government including White House chief of staff to former President Bill Clinton (F'68). Most recently, he served as a co-chair of the transition team for President Barack Obama.
The Drinan award, created in 1996, honors law alumni whose careers enhance human dignity and advance justice. The award was named for the late Rev. Robert Drinan (L'49, L'51), who in his 86 years of life built an inspiring career in public service through his roles of priest, U.S. congressman, Georgetown law professor, author, scholar and human rights activist. Drinan died in 2007.
"Both men share a commitment to conscience, to dedication, to working for justice, to law," said Georgetown President John J. DeGioia, who presented Podesta with the award. "They saw that success was not in serving the most powerful, but rather in championing those most in need."
In his brief remarks, Podesta noted that the commitment to public interest is part of what sets a Georgetown law education apart from the rest.
"At Georgetown, we work hard to master not only the nuances of the law, we study how to use the law to reach the higher goal of justice," he said. "In search of that goal, we embrace the unique relationship between centuries of legal tradition and centuries of Jesuitical search for higher truths and true service."
Link (here)
Read John Podesta's comments on Fr. Drinan and his reflection on receiving the award (here)
John Podesta on abortion:
I think that the Catholic Church is on fair ground when it tries to put his position on the abortion question to the American people. Where I part company with some of the tactics that have been employed by certain catholic bishops is on the denial of communion to those catholic elected officials who are trying in good conscience to balance their faith with their elected office. I think a vast majority of Catholics disagree with that judgment. Communion should not be used as a political weapon..
Link (here)
1 comment:
I am a horrid sinner, a simple accountant, and contemptible to many. A number of crosses I must patiently bear.
That said. Objective truth, as taught by the successors to the Apostles, is not, each generation, up for vote.
I think (unbelievable as that may seem) a huge majority of catholics also might disagree with their eternal judgments when they depart this vale of tears.
I. M. Scandalized
Post a Comment