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The Nuns on the Bus tour promotes social justice — and turns a deaf ear to the Vatican
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The bus Sister Simone Campbell is using for her cross-country publicity tour is the type typically used by rock bands. To some, this seems appropriate. The D.C. nun was greeted in Jackson, Mich., with “Saint Simone” signs, and in Janesville, Wis., people inside a downtown office-building atrium lined the balconies chanting and snapping photos.
In the past couple of weeks, the dry-humored lobbyist has been on the “The Colbert Report.” “The Daily Show,” which will feature Campbell in July, made her a satiny, “Grease”-like jacket emblazoned with “Bad Habitz” on the back.
With the number of U.S. nuns plummeting in recent decades, many people have never seen one in person. Even fewer have seen a nun do something that appears as defiant as Campbell’s “Nuns on the Bus” tour, which rolls into the D.C. area this weekend in its full-size, advertisement-wrapped, spokeswoman-staffed bus.
The two-week trip, which began June 18, is an attempt to motivate opposition to a House budget that would sharply reduce spending on social services. But it is also a response of sorts to a Vatican report in April raising alarm about “radical feminism” among top American nuns and singling out Network, the D.C.-based social-justice lobbying group Campbell heads.
The report said many nun leaders are focusing too much on social-justice issues and too little on same-sex marriage and abortion. Further, the bishops said some of the ideas that liberal nuns such as Campbell are discussing publicly — among them, female priests — border on heresy.
You might think that such a critical papal spotlight would send all nuns deep underground. But that’s certainly not the case for Campbell, who is an unusual combination of hard-hitting political strategist and poetry-writing spiritual figure.
Instead, Campbell met with her political allies on the Hill and prayed hard. Then the light bulb came on: a road tour!
The tour’s unspoken, but nonetheless loud, message: The nuns’ moral compass is working just fine, thank you. “Their big mistake was naming us,” Campbell said. “With all this attention, we had to use it for our mission.”
Campbell’s tour also overlaps almost exactly with the two weeks the nation’s Catholic bishops have devoted to the idea that religious freedom is under assault in the United States. The bishops’ key target is the Obama administration’s health-care plan, which mandates contraception coverage and for which Campbell prominently lobbied.
Not a single bishop has taken Campbell up on her offer to meet since the tour began. [More]
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78 Comments
There is a lie being perpetuated in the media (including this column) and by Simone Campbell herself that the Vatican Report says the nuns focus “too much” on the poor. This is absolutely false. Read the Vatican Report. It is only seven or eight pages long. It acknowledges that the sisters are effective in promoting Catholic teaching on social justice–it does not say they focus “too much” on the poor. This aspect of the report was meant as a nod of approval to the sisters, not a rebuke. It is incredible that it has been twisted in this way.
Incredible, Alice, but not surprising. Thanks for your post. The media are despicable — they literally twist reality and serve up their propaganda as truth. They disgust me. If the media were fair, Obama would have zero chance of re-election.
Jim.
Need your help.
Just read this article:
“Pants On Fire Mitt Romney tells 616 Lies in 33 Weeks”
Your expertise in numerology, lotteries, etc should be invaluable in interpreting the meaning of 616 and 33 – and how it relates to Romney’s lies.
While you are at it – why does Rolling Rock beer have the number 33 on every bottle?
Dennis — wasn’t aware of Rolling Rock beer using number 33 — that’s interesting — I don’t know the significance, but I assume it’s not random. If you’re being serious about the article on Romney — I’m sure it was written by a biased member of the media — in other words, your typical member of the media who presents their lies as objective truth. I do think there is some signficance in those numbers, however — I have found that when I program a rocket to land on another planet at 616 feet per second, it crashes; but, when I program it to set down at 33 feet per second, it is a perfect landing. Have you found the same?
Jim
You crack me up!
Your only “news” source is FixNews and you actually think those entertainers are some sort of journalists or reporters.
By the way are they still arguing we can’t give everybody medical coverage because we will run out of doctors?
It is true, Dennis — there will not be enough doctors if Abomination-Care is not repealed — which Mr. Romney promises to do on day one after being sworn into office. Thank God for Romney.
Jim.
I think Einstein said it best:
“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.”
You didn’t happen to know Einstein by any chance?
Most of the kids in college would love to get a medical degree. But you don’t know who or what controls the supply of doctors. Do you?
Dennis — you don’t create doctors over night. It is about an 11-year process — you have to have the right undergrad courses (4 years), medical school (4 years), and residency (3 or 4 years). Also, doctors salaries will be cut under Mr. 666′s plan — they way he intends to “save” Medicare money is to reduce the salaries of doctors. Now, since you’re the economist, let me ask you a question — do we anticipate the number of applicants to medical school to increase or decrease as salaries go down? While there may always be enough applicants to medical school, the better question is, will there be enough qualified applicants for medical school?
Jim.
You can’t fix stupid.
You asked:
“do we anticipate the number of applicants to medical school to increase or decrease as salaries go down?”
Did you intend for this to be some sort of trick question or did it really originate out of complete ignorance?
Physician’s salaries have absolutely, positively, nothing to do with the number of applicants to medical school.
The correct answer is the American Medical Association (AMA) keeps the physician supply low to ensure high pay for practicing physicians.
Economist Milton Friedman, pointed out the AMA acts as a guild and has attempted to increase physicians’ wages and fees by influencing limitations on the supply of physicians and non-physician competition.
Dennis — “Physician salaries have absolutely, positively, nothing to do wiht the number of applicants to medical school.” I’m assuming that is your own statement; and if it is, I suggest that every rocket you have tried to land on the moon has crashed. Dennis, I like you, but unfortunately you think two plus two = 16. Also, are you aware that many medical doctors intend to quit the practice of medicine / retire early if Abomination-Care is implemented.
Jim.
That is correct I said:
“Physician salaries have absolutely, positively, nothing to do with the number of applicants to medical school.”
I’m surprised you didn’t rebut my argument by saying something really stupid like:
“What if they only earned minimum wage?”
The AMA controls the supply of doctors. The AMA is very proud of this. Why do you have a problem with it?
I know a few doctors and, except for one, they moan all the way to the bank.
I couldn’t decipher the rest of your rambling.
Well, Dennis, the reason you couldn’t decipher the rest of my “rambling” is because it was rational — and I know you have a hard time with rationality. Stick with me, though, and I may be able to rehabilitate you mind. The AMA in NO WAY controls the supply of doctors — you have absolutely no knowledge, apparently, about the profession of medicine. First of all, the license to practice medicine is granted by each individual state’s board of medicine. That board will license anyone who passes the exam and has completed the requisite educational requirements. At that point, the person is duly licensed to practice medicine, and is a licensed physician. Now, to sit for the licensure exam, you must have made it through medical school — and admission to medical school is controlled by each individual medical school, not the AMA. Dennis, did any rocket you ever lauchned get off the launch pad, or did it explode right on the launch pad? Better, I wonder if any rocket you have designed actually even attempted ignition — you probably pushed the launch button, and all that happened was a sign inside the rocket lighted up and said “Merry Christmas.”
Jim, try following me on this. I am trying to make it very simple.
The U.S. Department of Education recognizes the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for accreditation of programs of medical education leading to the M.D. degree in the United States.
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association (AMA) each appoint six professional members. The AAMC and AMA each appoint one student member. The LCME itself appoints two public members, and a member is appointed to represent the CACMS.
The number of LCME accredited programs (MD degrees) determines the number of doctors.
Did I lose you along the way?
Dennis — I will presume what you have posted is factually accurate (I’m just a magnanimous guy). By your own math, the AMA has minority representation on the LCME, and therefore the AMA cannot control the LCME. Are you still with me, Dennis?
Or did I lose you on the first turn?
Jim.
I am dazzled that you actually read what I wrote.
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is a not-for-profit association representing all 138 accredited U.S. medical schools.
Do you think they might have the same goals?
In fact, I would bet the AMA has a strong influence over the AAMC.
Jim.
Looking on the bright side – now you know what controls the supply of doctors in the USA.
Well, Dennis, you do have a point. You know, that rocket you were trying to launch to the moon — when you pressed the launch button, I thought I might have seen something spark underneath the rocket — but maybe that was just someone walking by trying to light their cigarette.
But Dennis, even if all of what you say is accurate, the problem remains that we will lose some medical talent by lowering the salaries of physicians. You’re the economist, Dennis, you have to know that. Or, like I said in the post above, maybe that spark below your rocket really was a teenager walking by trying to light their cigarette.
Jim.
I apologize!
I forgot you get your facts from pinnacle of wisdom at FixNews.
I must be wrong.
Dennis — try “FixNews” for three straight months — turn off All Barack Channel (ABC), Complete Bull Sh.. (CBS), Nobody But Creeps (NBC), Creepy News Network (CNN), and Massive Snowjob & Nobody But Creeps (MSNBC). You will begin to see reality as it actually is before the 90 days is out — at least I hope so. Unfortunately, so many Americans are so brainwashed, almost none of them know it, and the brainwashing has been over the course of a lifetime. The Muslims who kill Christians have been so brainwashed that they think they are serving God in murdering Christians. Most in the West have been brainwashed as extensively as well, just a different type of brainwashing. I would think that a man with your intellectual prowess, Dennis, would be above the brainwashing. But I must admit, I myself was brainwashed for many years, believing hte lies Uncle Walter told us on Complete Bull Sh.. (CBS).
Jim.
We were here before and I pointed you to the history of brainwashing and my favorite “terminal interrogation”.
Dennis — I have no idea to what your cryptic post refers. Are you just posting some math that you think will get your rocket to the moon? I’m waiting for one to at least spark when you push the launch button.
Jim.
Moving to the top.
The artificial doctor shortage goes way back:
In 1910 when the Flexner report, commissioned by the AMA, declared that a surplus of substandard medical schools in the country were producing a surplus of substandard doctors. The AMA convinced lawmakers to shut down “deficient” medical schools, drastically paring back the supply of doctors almost 30% over 30 years. No new medical schools have been allowed to open since the 1980s. (article written 2009)
According to a 2007 study by McKinsey&Company, physician compensation bumps up health care spending in America by $58 billion annually,on average, because U.S. doctors make twice as much as their OECD peers. And even the poorest in specializations like radiology and surgery routinely rake in around $400,000 annually.
“we will lose some medical talent by lowering the salaries of physicians”
How low are you thinking?
Dennis — I appreciate the history lesson. That spark below the rocket you built actually turns out to have been the product of ignition from the rocket itself — congratulations. Now, all you need to do is get it off the launch pad — we’ll worry about getting it into the trophosphere later. I am aware that physicians in the USA make more than their foreign counterparts. But, the cost of medicine has much more to do with how we treat people than with the salaries of physicians. So, I’m not so concerned about physician salaries. Also, if you ever have known physicians and the nature of their work, you’ll know that it takes a lot out of you to practice medicine. Frankly, I think nursing is a better deal than medical school. It still remains the case that lowering salaries of physicians will attract the less-talented, and send the more talented into other fields. I’m not saying this would be true for everyone, but it would be true for the majority.
BTW, there’s not much privacy in the USA anymore. And, with Mr. 666 at the helm, the intrusion of government into our lives will continue. I Googled you, and I believe I found you. I won’t post it here, though — and don’t worry, Dennis, I like you, so I intend no harm. BTW, try Googling “Jim USA” to see if you can locate me. Oops, I gave away the fact that I live in the USA. Well, you have millions of choices. You kinda look just like I thought you would.
Jim.
Maybe you are a physician but I don’t think so.
You can Google till the cows come home and you will never find me.
Saw this coming a couple decades ago.
No twitter, no facebook, no youtube, no linkedin, no public mailboxes, etc.
Jim.
Just Googled my name.
Couldn’t find one myself.
Maybe I spelled my name wrong. I’ll check again.
Try inserting your first and last name and see what you come up with. If I didn’t find you and you really did see all this coming, I’m impressed. It won’t matter, though — you and I probably will be in a detention camp within the next few years if Mr. 666 is re-elected.
Google “USA detention camps” — happy reading.
Jim.
Be honest with me.
You are practicing to be a stand-up comic – RIGHT?
We already have the largest number and percentage of our population in jail than any other country on the planet.
What is your point?
Dennis — try this link: http://www.activistpost.com/2012/05/us-internment-camp-prison-for-new.html. My point is that Mr. 666 is going down the same path as Hitler went, stripping us of religious freedom, slowly at first. Once the federal government controls health care (16% of our economy), they control a lot. This is not hear-say this is established fact: electronic medical records will be required, and (I believe) they will be implanted in the person. You won’t be able to get health care without it. So, you want Abomination-care to become law — and thereby you are ushering in complete fascism.
Thanks, buddy. I hope you and enough Americans wake up before it’s too late.
Jim, as my kids would say, “dude, your becoming creepy.”.
Tony — just remember — pray to the Blessed Mother. Try that link I was offering to Dennis and see what you think. You support Mr. 666, in the process of ushering in fascism in America. Thanks, buddy.
That’s what’s on the line in this election, dude. And most Americans are content to let “Uncle Obama” support them with health care and food stamps stolen from hard-working, industrious Americans. It would be one think if Mr. 666 gave away his own money; but he insists on forcing Americans, at the risk of incarceration for violation of the tax code, to pay for benefits of others who are not interested in working hard. Again, today, I have worked my butt off my entire life, and I sometimes think of cancelling my cell phone. People on welfare, in lines for soup kitchens, all have cell phones, provided courtesy of me and you and other hard-working Americans.
Tony.
You are no fun!
Jim was just beginning to enlighten us.
I am with you Jim on the electronic medical records. It is a big industry.
Dennis — but are you with me on the risk to privacy and control posed by electronic medical records that are stored on a disk implanted below the skin? This already exists in socialist Europe.
Oh yeah we are all gonna have a microchip inserted in our heads with all our info on it, like my dog has. right.
How do you spell paranoid?
Unfortunately, Dennis, I am afraid I am going to have the “last laugh” — it won’t be much consolation, though.
Oops, that last post should have been directed to you, dear Tony.
Well Jim I am sorry to say that there is a very good reason to have a central repository for a person’s medical records.
Today one doctor often doesn’t know that their patient is receiving from a different doctor. This leads to errors.
Dennis — I’ll take the errors over fascism and big brother government intrusion any day.
Jim I gotta go to bed, be not afraid.
Thanks, Tony.
Jim.
Will somebody please take the lead on if this country is headed towards fascism, Marxism, communism, socialism, etc.
I have my own idea but I am counting on you.
I don’t know what you mean by this post, Dennis. I think you’ve been inhaliing too much rocket fuel fumes.
Jim.
I understand you don’t know the words have different definitions.
Dennis — if the government agent is pointing a gun to my head, I don’t care if he is a socialist, Marxist, communist, or Democrat. I care about the reality. Words are simply arbitrarily-chosen verbal symbols for communicating consensually-agreed-upon meaning. So, again, academics can argue to what we are headed. But, if you look at the definition of fascism, we are definitely headed there — government control of everything. He who would sacrifice his freedom for security deserves neither — and will have neither.
Jim.
You sucked me in with one of my favorite quotes by Ben Franklin.
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
An earlier variant by Franklin in Poor Richard’s Almanack (1738): “Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor Liberty to purchase power.”
My favorite paraphrase is:
“He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.”
You say fascism your buddy says socialism – they are essentially exact opposites.
I’m going with you Jim.
So Dennis, which buddy of mine are you referring to who believes we are headed to socialism? Also, if you agree with me about our transit to fascism, why on Earth are you voting for Mr. 666, the head fascist?
Jim.
Your statement would be correct if you said I am not voting for Romney.
I would never vote for a crook and someone with no moral compass.
I know what he is hiding in those tax returns. Do you think Larry Flint will find out.
Wonder how Mitt feels having the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head.
And besides I am not rich.
Dennis — sorry, you lost me again. What are you saying — that Romney and Larry Flint have something going together? And, the crook with no moral compass — were you referring to Mr. 666? And what’s the problem with Romney’s tax returns?
Jim.
Moving to the top.
Sorry I lost ya.
Does this make it any clearer?
“Hustler Magazine Offers Million Dollar Reward for Romney Tax Returns”
Dennis — well, so what? I’m sure Mr. Romney made his money honestly. He doesn’t want to release his tax return because the Demon-crats will use it for political fodder. I still want to know, though — to whom were you referring when you said he is without a moral compass — Mr. 666?
Jim is it asking too much to use the correct number – 616?
He can’t release his tax returns because he took advantage of the Federal Tax AMNESTY program for tax cheats.
I know you are good with numbers so answer me just one question directly.
Please.
How do you get $100 million dollars in an IRA?
Dennis — I don’t know tax law very well, so I can’t answer that — but, let’s put it this way — if he was violating the tax law that egregiously, I’m sure the IRS would have caught him.
Jim.
Did a light go on in your head or is your wife helping you?
That is exactly what I said. He can’t release his tax returns because the IRS did catch him.
The AMNESTY program only tacked on a penalty (no prison time) but it would show up in your tax return.
Well, if he got amnesty, then he was not the only one who got amnesty. And, if the IRS offered amnesty, it is because it was necessary, perhaps secondary to a change in interpretatoion of IRS regulations. They don’t grant amnesty to one tax cheat in isolation. So, Dennis, you need to present the entire context of the situation, not just your pre-ordained conclusion and ignoring extenuating facts. Beleive me, if Romney was a tax cheat, the Complete Bull Sh… (CBS) network would be all over that. And, contrary to your jaded view, the Fox News Channel also would have reported it.
Jim.
Keeping it short and simple.
The Swiss banks were taken to court for aiding and abetting money laundering and tax evasion. They agreed to a settlement that included releasing the names of all US citizens to the US government.
The US government offered several amnesty (as in pardon for a crime) programs to let the tax cheats bring the money home by paying a penalty. No criminal charges, no prison time.
Thousands of US citizens took advantage of the program since when the US got the names from the Swiss banks they would prosecute everybody that didn’t take advantage of the amnesty program.
As of a few months ago the courts were deciding on the monetary penalty to charge the Swiss banks.
Therefore, Romney cannot release his tax returns.
So what, Dennis. Neither you nor I know the exact details. Interpretation of laws can change, and you can be exposed big time to this intrusive federal government. You can’t tell me a man married for all the years he has been married with five children is a dishonest man. The Complete Bull Sh… (CBS) network wants you to believe that, and unfortunately, you have taken the bait.
Jim.
If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, sounds like a duck… chances are it is a duck.
He is a crook.
You can’t explain why Mitt wants to carry this tax return albatross all the way to election day.
The tax returns are toxic.
Well, Dennis, I have to go out in my back yard now, light the fuse on the rocket, get it to Mars before dawn — but, I also need to catch some sleep while it is in flight. Tell me, though — are you voting for Mr. 666?
Affordable Health Care for all is closer now as a result of the Supreme Court.
As our president has often said, “It is the right thing to do.”
Blessed are the meek…if the religious sisters are not submissive to the Vatican how can we expect the laity to listen to what the Holy Father says with a serious mind? This is a question of obedience, not a “who struck John” situation. I applaud the idea that the Gospel message to help those less fortunate is being fulfilled here but does everything have to be done as if it were opening night? Do good, not like the pompous who flaunt their good deeds. Or, as my Sicilian grandmother used to say, “do good and forget it”.
If I remember correctly, the US bishops were not big fans of the Ryan budget either. I cannot see how this bus project, which is a direct reflection of Catholic teaching like “Economic Justice for All” can be described as defiant. I feel that people are jumping on themes or words from various hot stories and stringing them together in a convenient but irrational way.
It’s not the bus project that’s defiant, Mary Ann — it’s the nuns’ support for woman’s ordination, and their support for homosexuality and masturbation. Thus, the activism of these pseudo-religious women cannot be based on true concern and love, as a person who truly was concerned and loved the poor would conform to Church teachings — rather, it is based on their own arrogance –arrogance that they think they know better than the Vatican.
When you read the writings of truly holy women like St. Faustina, you will see that they understand that obedience to God (and thus His Church’s teachings) is much more important than any specific action they perform. Truth be told, God does not need us to do anything — He can do everything Himself, with or without our cooperation; witness, for example, how He created the world — and He did it without these heretical nuns’ help. Also, witness how He fed 5000 with a few loaves and fishes. Again, the issue is our willingness to align our wills with His, our willingness to be obedient. We are not the saviors of the poor and down-trodden — God is.
I have no problem with Nuns speaking out against justice for the poor and disadvantaged, however it seems as if Simone and her band are portrayed as the only ones who do this. There are so many Religious Sisters who don’t belong to Simomes group who don’t ride around in buses seeking media attention, but are out on the streets helping the poor and also speaking out against injustice and yet remaining faithful to the teachings of the churchl. These are the orders that are growing. Simone’s group and others like it will die out within the next 15 – 20 years. It’s not because they don’t wear a habit;I couldn’t care less what they wear, their disobedience towards other church teachings will be their downfall.
It’s good to read that the Vatican is calling a spade a spade — some of Campbell’s assertions border on heresy. Campbell’s church will be gone in less than a year after her death. The true Church, the Catholic Church with its bishops and other hierarchy, will be here until the end of time. Campbell will understand the error of her ways in the next life, if not in this one. She’s just a radical hippie who lives in community with other women, and lives off the contributions of others — she is not a Catholic sister, and I would never let her near my children to educate them.
My goodness – you must be very lonely!
How you could draw that conclusion from my post, Francis, is beyond me. Perhaps lonliness is an issue for you?
“Not a single bishop has taken Campbell up on her offer to meet since the tour began.” How very sad. Like the Pharisees inthe time of Jesus the bishops have abandoned ship. Bless you, Sisters!
May God continue to bless these Sisters who have taken the Gospel To heart, Who like Mary in the Magnificat, sees the freedom and liberation for the poor and the lowly as important religious goals.
Tony, actually, Sister Simone and her Merry Band of Marxists, are exactly what they should not be, seeking attention. Or have you forgotten what Christ said about keeping good works to yourself and not bragging about them.
Sister Simone represents the lax orders that came from the feminist movement of the ’60′s, around the same time the Jesuits decided that allowing homosexual priests into the order would have no repercussions.
Simone should learn the Gosples and not seek fame, which is exactly what she is doing. And you need to learn exactly where all this “social justice” origninated from.
Tony — here’s another invitation from God to you (using Zane as the instrument) for you to see the truth about these disobedient heretics.
I love that — “Sister Simone and her Merry Band of Marxists” — I’ll try to remember that for future posts. Notice, Tony, I have decided not to put in any reference to the sexual behavior of these fake sisters in my posts, unlike you, who so grossly referred to the good Father Groeschel’s sexual behavior.