From the New York Times:
In a spirited retort to the Vatican, a group of Roman Catholic nuns is planning a bus trip across nine states this month, stopping at homeless shelters, food pantries, schools and health care facilities run by nuns to highlight their work with the nation’s poor and disenfranchised.
The bus tour is a response to a blistering critique of American nuns released in April by the Vatican’s doctrinal office, which included the accusation that the nuns are outspoken on issues of social justice, but silent on other issues the church considers crucial: abortion and gay marriage.
The sisters plan to use the tour also to protest cuts in programs for the poor and working families in the federal budget that was passed by the House of Representatives and proposed by Representative Paul D. Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican who cited his Catholic faith to justify the cuts.
“We’re doing this because these are life issues,” said Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of Network, a liberal social justice lobby in Washington. “And by lifting up the work of Catholic sisters, we will demonstrate the very programs and services that will be decimated by the House budget.”
It seems to me that this effort to highlight the sisters' continued commitment to justice is a worthwhile and clever response. Other thoughts?
UPDATE 6/7: Here's a preliminary schedule of the sisters' ride:
June 18, 2012- July 2, 2012
SCHEDULE
Monday, June 18
Iowa: Ames, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque
Tuesday, June 19
Wisconsin: Janesville, Racine
Wednesday, June 20
Wisconsin and Illinois: Racine, Fox Lake, Moline
Thursday, June 21
Illinois and Indiana: Moline, Chicago, South Bend
Friday, June 22
Indiana and Michigan: South Bend, Elkhart, Jackson, Livonia
Saturday, June 23
Michigan and Ohio: Livonia, Toledo, Dayton
Sunday June 24
Ohio: Dayton, West Chester, Columbus
Monday, June 25
Ohio: Columbus, Cleveland
Tuesday, June 26
Ohio and Pennsylvania: Marietta, Pittsburgh
Wednesday, June 27
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh, Altoona
Thursday, June 28
Pennsylvania: Atloona, Scranton
Friday, June 29
Pennsylvania: Scranton, Langhorne, Philadelphia
Saturday, June 30
Pennsylvania and Maryland: Philadelphia, Frederick
Sunday, July 1
Maryland and Virginia: Baltimore, Fredericksburg
Monday, July 2
Virginia: Fredericksburg, Richmond, Virginia Beach
Please remember that these dates are subject to change. We'll let you know as soon as we have more information!
Kerry Weber
When works of mercy lead to self-idolatry, self-promotion, self-righteousness, then we no longer serve God but our own self, our own proud name and the name of the Evil one. When works of mercy is performed without true humility, then we become boastful, proud, self-important, and rebellious. We no longer obey, and are no longer faithful to Our Holy Mother Church and Our Holy Father the Pope.
Remember, on our own we are nothing and by ourselves we can do nothing. When we do works of mercy, it is not we, but God who does in us. Remember, Jesus said that the gates of Hell will not prevail against Our Holy Mother Church – but the gates of Hell will surely prevail against those who willingly dissent and rebel against the Church and the Pope. Remember who was the first to willingly dissent, rebel and to disobey. Remember the consequences of that disobedience.Remember, Jesus was obedient unto death – a death on the Cross!
Who in the Church expects the ?n??u?n?s? ??t?o? ?b?e? ?a?b?l?e? ?t?o?????????? ????do ?a?n?d? ?s?a?y? ?w?h?a?t? ????????????they please and n?ot be held ?accountable to anyo?n?e?? ?e?s?p?e?c?i?a?????l?l?y? ?o?n? ?i?s?s?u?e?s? ?o?f? ?f?a?i?t?h? ?a?n?d? ?m?o?r?a?l????????s????? ?? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
They are, after all, members of the weaker and therefore inferior gender. (I was going to say "sex" but that would be disrepectful to their impressionable and easily insulted natures.)
I hope that America will post a schedule of where the Nun Bus will be. If I'm nearby, I'll go out of my way to cheer them on.
Grab your Saint Christopher medals, and put that ole plastic Jesus on the dashboard!
Instead of debating, I have simply sent them some money for GAS and TOLLS here:
http://www.networklobby.org/nuns-bus-trip