The Democrats may have their sister, but the Republicans can now lay claim to a Jesuit.

From James Martin at America comes this tidbit, from the Republican National Committee:

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.

In this game of political praying poker, I suspect a Jesuit trumps a Josephite.