"I grew up outside Chicago, went to high school in Wisconsin, and my two brothers and I went to Notre Dame. My older brother attended but was killed as a fighter pilot during World War II. I graduated in 1949. Since then, I've lived in North Dakota, South Bend, California, and Chile. I was the rector to a certain John Jenkins. I also knew Rudy very well--the movie creates a composite of three priests in Father Cavanaugh, and it seems I was one of the three priests.
"I retired in 2001, but my health was still doing well (to my knowledge). It was Catholic social teaching that drew me to prison ministry, because, in a way, the inmates are the poorest of the poor. Along with general population, I visit death row--they call it x row--weekly. The men there appreciate the company. They form a certain community there, taking care of one another. One man is going through the process of being baptized. Two of them receive Communion. More than anything, though, they just want someone to be with them, to listen to them, to show compassion. I tend to avoid the topic of their crimes, simply because I don't want to treat any of the men differently.
"I've witnessed three executions, one of a man whom I had known for a few years. When we were escorted from the witness seats after the execution, a group of protesters was packing up and leaving the parking lot. I've often thought, if I wasn't in the witness seats, I would be out there with them.
"It's as Pope Francis has said: a human life is a human life. And everyone has the right to life, regardless of their past."