Sr. Simone Campbell, a Sister of Social Service, was in Kansas City, Mo., last night to talk about her organization, NETWORK, and what she believes are the nation’s toughest issues: primarily the growing wealth gap and the need for Medicaid expansion in every state. Speaking to a crowd of about 500 to 600 people at Community Christian Church, Campbell deplored the economic and political policies in the United States that she says explicitly hurt the poor and benefit the rich.
Not too long ago, the world barely noticed nuns, and then only in some anonymous or stereotypical way. Now there is hardly an instance when the world does not notice them. The irony is palpable. When we looked like "nuns," we weren't seen. Now that we look simply like ourselves, everybody sees everything we do. Clearly, witness is at least as powerful as uniforms. And nuns have given clear witness to contemplation, equality, and justice these last years.
As the largest leadership organization for U.S. women religious prepares to gather for four days in Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 12-16, the group appears to stand on a precipice. But what lies on either side or what path the membership will choose to follow, no one can say.
On a recent trip to Nigeria, I stayed with the Nigeria Conference of Women Religious, who were holding a personal development program for sisters about to take their final vows. Using the story of Jesus and Simon casting out the net on the Sea of Galilee as a literary guide, GSR ran our first writing workshop there with good results. Here are excerpts from the work of four sisters.
by GSR Staff
"Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed and well-fed"
Audio interview - Holy Names Sr. Sophia Park, a native of South Korea, is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and Philosophy at Holy Names University in California and teaches spiritual direction courses at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Park holds an Ph.D. in Christian spirituality from Graduate Theological Union. I spoke to her recently about Pope Francis’ upcoming trip to South Korea and what kind of church the pope will likely find there.
Catholic News Service
Sr. Simone Campbell, whose "Nuns on the Bus" tours for social and economic justice drew national attention, has been named recipient of the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award. The executive director of NETWORK, a nonprofit Catholic social justice lobby, will receive the award Sept. 21 in Christ the King Chapel at St. Ambrose University in Davenport.
by Barbara Mayer
Contributor
The United States ranks fifth among the countries of the world in the number of executions, and is one of the few developed countries that still retain the death penalty. As part of their witness to God's mercy and dedication to the sanctity of life, many women religious here are working to end it.
Barbara Mayer is a Benedictine sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kan. She is a freelance writer and poet and the editor of Benedictines magazine.
by GSR Staff
"We cannot at once keep sacred the miracle of existence and hold sacrosanct the capacity to destroy it."
