Nuns on the Bus Brings Light to Capitol Hill

July 4, 2012

After two weeks, nine states and 2,700 miles on the road, the Nuns on the Bus tour concluded its trip Monday with a final stop in Washington, D.C. The nuns visited soup kitchens, homeless shelters and congressional offices, highlighting the social service work of other nuns and protesting the House Republican budget, which they consider immoral. As an alternative, the nuns support the Faithful Budget, which was drafted by an interfaith group of religious leaders, several of whom spoke at the tour’s finale on the steps of the United Methodist building on Capitol Hill.

Dr. Sayyid Sayeed, the national director of the Islamic Society of North America, summed up the sentiments of the gathered religious leaders as he praised the nuns and their work. Watch here:

Follow our coverage of the bus tour at BillMoyers.com/nuns, and stay tuned for an upcoming report on Moyers & Company.

Related Features

TOPICS: Faith & Reason

TAGS: Christianity, islam, nuns on the bus, ryan budget, widget

Are you aware of our Comment Policy?

http://www.facebook.com/people/Marian-Hennings/100000826252983 Marian Hennings
I suppose Pope Benedict is shaking his finger at these nuns for caring too much about social justice.
Jeanne Lese
Sisters, you are the future of the Church. Amen.
Tmcrane52
Not sure it’s related, but heard an NPR report today about the Roman Catholic leadership being upset with some nuns and others who have taken Vatican 2 reforms too far. Being one of those raised Catholic now not practicing, I have to ask why any religion needs so much structure and dogma. It seems the Human inclination to complicate everything is at work here. I just can’t believe Christ envisioned dofusses in funny hats should do the thinking for all. In my gut I know it’s all a bad joke. It is time for revolution. Think for yourself. Interpret for yourself. Trust your individual intuition. It is a divine gift.
aazsi
It seems like you need to re-study the historical background of the church you once belonged to. It is no doubt, partially the fault of these so-called liberal nuns that you don’t seem very educated on Catholicism. They have caused enormous damage to the Catholic Church’s fundamental teachings while they were entrusted with the minds of the youngest members.
aazsi
You may want to think again, Jeanne. These women act contrary to the teachings of Christ. Their movement will die out and wither like the weeds they are.
Jeanne Lese
Sorry but IMO you, along with the hierarchy, are mistaken. I’ll be hanging out with Mr Crane and the nuns. We’ll pray for you.
Aazsi
These women are NOT nuns. The first Nuns were groups of women who modeled themselves after the Blessed Virgin Mary, in humility and obedience to God’s teachings. They often dressed in modest attire, setting themselves apart from the ways of the world. In contrast, these modern”women” (with poor hair-do’s and business suits) have no idea what humility is, as they are often found forcing their wayward, feminist “opinions” upon anyone who stands in their way. Many of them have caused great harm to generations of children that they once vowed to teach the truths the Catholic Faith to. (Why is it that the average Catholic has very little understanding of the authentic teachings of Catholicism? It is no accident!) It is sad that our president is pandering to these radicals, with full knowledge of the division that they cause in the Catholic Church, in order to proceed with his radical agenda! There are plenty of good, holy nuns who live only to serve Christ first, and the poor second, and these nuns will NOT be found in the news media, tooting their own horns!
James Cox
As a humanist I support all/most attempts at peace. People stepping up to do ‘something’ shows real fortitude to buck state and church dogma.
Christ is not here to direct, but principles that seem worthy of emulating, his or the dearest principles of the human heart should be honored. Being fearful of ’peace’ should not be promoted, the greater good should be. If dogma is promoted over the greater good, then it stops being good. If the ‘truths’ of the Catholic faith can not show their worth in works, then of what use are they? War and violence are great acts of ugliness, do not children suffer greatly during such events? Are not the resources of the planet squandered during these horrible events? Where does the greater good rest? Hiding in a closter, of changing the world for the best?
Aazsi
James, are you educated on what the so-called “dogma” of the Catholic Church teaches, or are you guessing at it, like so many others do? If one were to know all that the Church truly stands for on issues of peace, there would be very little that a person of goodwill (or even a “humanist”) could dispute.
And, speaking of goodwill, have you had first-hand experience with these “good sisters?” I have personally, and I can say in all honesty that many of those who are currently raging against the Church, whether it be boldly, or in subtly in sheep’s clothing, are bitter, frustrated feminists who desire power and control over others. They have distanced themselves from the Gospel of Christ by reinventing their own shallow ideology. If one were to ask, how exactly are these sisters changing the world for the best, they’d be shocked to find out that its all about the “good sisters.”
Anonymous
“By their works, shall ye know them.” These nuns minister to the widowed and fatherless. They feed the poor. That certainly speaks louder than the clothing they wear. The Vatican has plenty of its own “wickedness in high places” and needs to clean its own house before criticizing these nuns. They don’t claim to be feminists; they are human beings trying to alleviate the suffering of other human beings. And incidentally, feminism doesn’t mean women desire control over others; feminists simply want control over themselves, their own lives, their own bodies, their own futures.
Dee
They do more good than you do. Don’t criticize them because they don’t fit your stereotype of nuns. You don’t wear a loin cloth and hit bears over the head anymore either. Things change. Their clothing in no way detracts from their deeds. Priests don’t wear long robes all the time and have long flowing beards. Join the march to the future.
Dsa
Contrary to the teachings of Christ? Since when is feeding the hungry and helping the homeless against the teachings of Christ? Wow. You really are a bitter cynical stick in the mud who THINKS he knows Christ.
Patsquires
Shame on you! You would have them in burkas waiting on the men (priests/bishops). Are you Catholic or radical Muslim? Nuns vow to be married to Christ and to follow Him. They do that better than anyone else in the faith – clergy, or otherwise!
Patsquires
Sounds like you’re quite the “woman hater”, Aazsi. Thankfully, like Christ, the Sisters hate no one. God bless them and their wonderful ministry to us all. Praying for a schizm – I will be worshipping with them. Am sick and tired of politics from the pulput. Priests are no more inclined to have the Holy Spirit talk through them as we all are. Christ was a radical and these JPII priests are no more than Pharisees.
ExpoFan
Aazsi, you are stuck in a tunnel wishing you were correct. I AM Catholic and I do understand quite a bit about the Church and its teachings. I am also a graduate of the Catholic school system, having been taught by nuns more than lay teachers. Each order has a different directive. As “brides of Christ”, they go about His teachings, often focusing on specifics rather than generalities. Just because you take vows does not mean you stifle your own learning process or even blindly follow directives without finding out the reasons. Within the Church, those who question (devil’s advocates) have been traditionally male as it is a patriarchy. One more thing, no one becomes a nun because they are selfish. It is a calling. And being a strong woman does seem to scare many weak men and women.
Nena
You’re right, Marian! That’s exactly what he’s doing, and why they were on the road high-lighting their work. I also went to Catholic schools for 12 years, and had GREAT sisters for teachers who taught us what it really means to be a Christian. Jesus’ teachings take precedence over any institution’s. 5 years of spiritual direction with a Carmelite priest taught me many things, including the fact that one of our chief goals should be to lighten up: let go of anything that weighs you down, and don’t identify with an institution. The Catholic Church has many great things going for it, and many great teachings. But if you have no love, you’re just a banging gong, as the Biblical passage goes.
Aleta
How dare you criticize these women! They are dressed modestly, and living a life of devotion and service. Shame on you. When I think of what a nun should be, it is exactly these kind of women. They are helping people. What are you doing? You just want women to remain oppressed and controlled by men. That is sickening.
Terry Sagedy
Why don’t you take this energy you have utilized to criticize good and decent women who chose a life of service to others and go do some good deeds yourself with it? I went to Catholic school for twelve years and I can assure you I am well-versed in the teachings of the Church. The religious path has changed over time as does most things in life. Some still practice a life of cloister and serving Christ first; others choose a more hands-on approach and have now the means to make a difference in the suffering of others via the communication technologies of today. Vitriole will not help the plight of the poor; these women will.
Alder136
Perhaps you are a clergy wanting to hold onto power while the work of Jesus is done in the streets by these truth telling women.
janny
the nuns are terrific. get rid of the corrupt “Old Boys Club” in the Vatican and let the nuns run the show. Has anyone heard of any sexual abuse or corruption among the nuns?
Anna Totta
Hello, if anyone thinks they can alleviate hunger with donations from churches and civic organization, they should see our cupboard which is usually empty. Not that many churches and groups are not generous, it is simply not enough. Now our food bank allottment is cut in half. We give out a few cans of food a week to people who stand in long lines. We run out. When one in six Americans are hungry and one in four children, it is a civic responsiblity to alleviate hunger and cannot be resolved simply by hit or miss giving. Anna Totta, Regional Director, Catholic Charities of Los Angeles
ChicagoCatholic
Robert Royal is an appologist for Ryan!
He convinced me to donate to the NUNS