Catholic nuns’ federation criticizes Bush policies

[The Straight Story]

Catholic nuns’ federation criticizes Bush policies
7/13/2006

Catholic News Service (www.catholicnews.com)

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – At a national meeting in Milwaukee, leaders of the U.S. Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph sharply criticized policies of President George W. Bush "that continue the war in Iraq, that violate human rights along our borders, that intensify poverty, that pollute our earth and that deny our interdependence with all peoples."


The women religious, meeting at Milwaukee's Midwest Airlines Center, issued a statement addressed to Bush July 11 when they learned that the president was to speak that afternoon across the street at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, at a fundraiser for Mark Green, a Republican congressman from Wisconsin who is running for governor of the state.

Nearly 1,100 nuns and associates, representing 7,000 U.S. Sisters of St. Joseph and 2,500 associates, were at the Milwaukee meeting. More than 60 sisters from other parts of the world were also there.

"As we meet with our sisters from across the country and across the world, we are keenly aware of the common human and spiritual aspirations that unite us all," the nuns said.

"Committed to relationships grounded in compassion and love, we call upon you and your administration to change your policies and practices," they said.

http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=20518

[still_one]

1. where were they speaking up when bishops in the U.S. told people

not to vote for Kerry, and not to give communion to anyone who supported Kerry?

[flordehinojos]

2. the bishops have been minimizing the sisters and their role in the church.

making some ridiculous statements about the fact that they (the nuns) are not males therefore their role in the church can never be equal to that of priests, etc. but many nuns have spoken out against the bishops' prejudice and against the war like the religious of the sacred heart who sent a letter to bush before the invasion and occupation of iraq asking that he not attack, invade, or occupy iraq. i think the mainstream media, in its effort to glorify bush, glorify war, and glorify chutzpah has kept silent about all of that when it should have been reporting on it. (look at Maria Hinojosa and the reason why she decided to leave the corporate owned media).

[LostinVA]

3. Many sisters have always been very vocal about how Bush sucks

And, have protested for many, many causes. Martha Stewart was imprisoned with some who were doing time for protesting nuclear missiles. I have known many Sisters, from different orders, and I have had nothing for respect for them. Many are very Progressive. I will not condemn or ridicule them for wanting to serve God in the way they do.

The Church hierarchy is male. The Sisters are fe,male. And, the hierarchy does EVERYTHING it can to silence them and marginalize them. Many Sisters I have known would make wonderful and caring priests.

Trust me, if most US Sisters had seen a priest diddling an altar boy, they would have raised Holy Hell.

[still_one]

5. appreciate the information

[etherealtruth]

4. Uh ....YES

Many in the Catholic sisterhood have taken very strong stands in opposition to the Chimp's policies ... what is the name of the nun that was sentenced to prison, with in the last year or 2, for her protest at a nuclear missile site.

still_one, you may or may not have put your life and liberty on the line standing up for what you believe but a good many in the Catholic sisterhood do everyday.

[still_one]

6. Obviously I was under a different impression, because not much was said

I appreciate you correcting me

[hedgehog]

7. Yeah, but what about the Inquisition?

(sarcasm)