Mary van Balen

On Wednesday, the Nuns on the Bus arrived at the Democratic National Convention and one of them, Sister Simone Campbell, stood on the podium to remind those with ears to hear that the Romney/Ryan budget "failed a moral test," echoing the statement of the United States bishops.

Sister Simone, executive director of NETWORK, and a group of sisters traveled through nine states, spreading their message of concern about the budget adopted by the Republican party, a budget that would cause great harm to those most vulnerable in our country by cutting funding to programs that provide help to those who need it.

In light of the difficulties between the US Catholic Bishops and the members of the Leadership Council of Women Religious, some might have been surprised to hear Sister Campbell align herself with the bishops at the beginning of her remarks. However, on the issue of the Romney/Ryan budget, they agree. As Sister Campbell explained, despite Congressman Ryan's claim that "his budget reflects the principles of our shared Catholic faith," it would hurt those who live in poverty.

She shared poignant stories of individuals she met while on the bus tour: two young boys trying to care for a sick mother, a woman who died of cancer when loss of her job meant loss of health care, a man who depends on food stamps to help feed his family since his employer reduced his hours.

"I am my sister's keeper. I am my brother's keeper," she said.

"Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me." Those are Jesus' words. Read More 

You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry; my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children orphans. If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor; you shall not exact interest from them. If you take your neighbor's cloak in pawn, you shall restore it before the sun goes down; for it may be your neighbor's only clothing to use as cover; in what else shall that person sleep? And if your neighbor cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate. Ex 22. 21-27

This reading reminds us that aliens, the poor, widows, children are with us always.
We know only too well that "alien" does not mean only those from a country other than that where they reside. One can be an "alien" through poverty, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, or race. We can feel "alien" when we are not understood, when our work is unappreciated, when we are lonely.

Exodus states clearly how God expects us to relate to those suffering alienation in our midst. We are to serve. We are to love. We are to be a reflection of the Holy One who names herself "Compassion."

Today the pope canonized three new saints. two of whom reached out to women, One, Spanish nun Sister Bonifacia Rodriguez de Castro, a cord maker, founded an order that served poor women, providing them with a safe place to work. Hers was a prophetic voice that spoke quietly through her creation of a community of women that challenged prevailing assumptions about the place and role of women in the world. She offered an alternative to women who often were (and still are in many places here and around the world) abused and powerless.

At a time when even entering a religious order often required wealth and a dowery, Bonifacia's order and workshop accepted all; those who were physically able earned money by making cords or lace and gave their profits to a general fund,enabling those who could not work to remain.

She thought "outside the box," creating something new. God was her strength. The home of her parents' and that of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, a home where money was made simply in their workshop, were her inspiration. Read More