Category Archives: Front Page

Blog: Believing in Human Dignity in Every Circumstance

Believing in Human Dignity in Every Circumstance

Catherine G.

October 25, 2016

The recent killing of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old Black man in Charlotte, North Carolina, spurred uproar across the nation. News sources released information claiming that Mr. Scott had a violent past, suggesting his killing is somehow defensible. Nearly a year before Mr. Scott was shot to death by police, his wife applied for a protective order against him saying he threatened to kill family members with his gun. As a feminist, these allegations are deeply troublesome, but despite how egregious Mr. Scott’s behavior was, his life mattered. To suggest the contrary is a direct contradiction of Catholic Social Teaching.

Jesus’s teaching reminds us that human dignity cannot be taken away. If we really hold this doctrine to be true, then we are challenged to not succumb to our impulses that propel us to demonize rather than empathize. If we really hold this doctrine to be true, we must ask ourselves ‘why’ rather than make assumptions. As a nation, we have a strong tendency to attribute the negative actions of others to character flaws rather than the system and circumstances in which these individuals are acting.

Rather than use Keith Lamont Scott’s behavior to demonize him, our faith calls us to humanize. There may be a multitude of factors that influenced his propensity towards violence: factors we seldom discuss or aim to eradicate yet use to justify unwarranted shootings. By the same token, I believe the officers pulling the trigger, both White and people of color, are trained within systems that have propagated and reinforced the myth of the “predatory Black man.” We are inundated with messages that encourage the notion of White as default and White as safe. These messages become internalized and result in implicit (and explicit) biases that can have lethal consequences.

This does not absolve blame from either party. However, it is time that we step back and start asking more critical questions. This is not just about the individual officer who shot Keith Lamont Scott. I am angry at the systems that continuously allow the killing of Black men under the guise of self-defense. Let us not be lured by narratives that suggest certain human beings are beneath human dignity. Let us, instead, be lured to the work of dismantling oppressive systems. We owe it to our faith.

Follow Pope’s Example of “Meddling” in Politics

Follow Pope’s Example of ‘Meddling’ in Politics

By Sister Simone Campbell, SSS

October 24, 2016

The world’s Catholics now have a Pope who prioritizes the common good, and encourages Catholics to get involved in politics. He has said “a good Catholic meddles in politics,” and getting involved in politics this election is desperately needed. I predict that this year, the first presidential election since the election of Pope Francis, we will see a rise in the Pope Francis voter: People who are genuinely concerned with exploitation of our people and our earth. These Pope Francis voters will come together this election season to defeat bigotry and hate.

While Pope Francis’s message is one of welcome and inclusion, we know that some politicians continue the dog whistle call of the political far right, attempting to control the Catholic vote through a single issue. In 2016, it won’t work. Our faith calls us to address the needs of all the people at the margins of our society. It’s not just about the needs of the unborn or those on death row. It’s not just about the needs of the top 1 percent, or the 99 percent, but it’s about the 100 percent.

This election can’t be about a single issue, it cannot just be about protecting the unborn, but also about protecting immigrants, Muslims, women, children and people in poverty. Any Catholic who has heard Donald Trump disparaging immigrants as criminals and rapists, advocating for sexual assault and the exploitation of women, denigrating Muslims, demeaning people of color by labeling them thugs, and calling people in poverty losers knows that he is not a presidential candidate deserving of the Catholic vote.

Recently, leaked and stolen emails from 2012 have revealed a conversation among several Catholics who are now tied to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. This has been painted as “anti-Catholic bigotry.” Let me be clear: This is manufactured hysteria, a desperate political move and a farce. Those who are genuinely concerned about the interests of Catholics would promote the dignity of work, stand with those who are living in poverty against the structures of injustice, and rise above individual interest for the good of the whole community.

This October, I’m traveling through Cincinnati to talk with my fellow Nuns on the Bus, and all the Pope Francis voters who join him in his prayer: “I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor!” Nuns on the Bus Ohio has been committed to this effort, holding politicians accountable for the voter purge which would hinder access to democracy, working with immigrants and refugees to improve access to citizenship, and protecting our environment as stewards of the earth.

I am coming to Cincinnati to meet with people who are pursuing employment and seeking housing opportunities, to learn more about their lives, and to talk about issues that are most important to them this election season. I am also coming to Cincinnati to talk with people who aren’t Catholic, but share the conviction that we must do all we can to care for the common good. I invite you to join me for an election discussion that focuses on the common good. As people of faith, we must be a model for the media and for our candidates that we want a substantive conversation, not fights that tear apart the fabric of our society.

In 2016, Catholics are Pope Francis voters who work for the common good. We must not allow our polarizing election to turn us around.

Originally published in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Voting to Mend the Gaps in Indianapolis

By Meg Olson

October 6, 2016

This past week, we traveled to Indianapolis and visited Southeast Community Services, an agency that provides GED preparation and job skills training. As Sister Simone spoke with 30 clients, we learned that there is a severe shortage of affordable housing in Indianapolis and that low wages are preventing parents and grandparents from adequately providing for their families. It was also clear many of the people sharing their stories didn’t feel like they should vote because they were poor or hadn’t graduated from high school, or because they felt like politics didn’t apply to them.

We showed two of our presidential candidate Side by Side videos, one that compared Clinton and Trump’s positions on affordable housing and one on living wages. Afterwards, Sister Simone asked, “So, what do you think?” Immediately, Thomasina raised her hand and said, “I’m going to vote! I wasn’t going to because I thought I was going to destroy something…but it’s important for my family! How do I vote?” Thomasina, who had just sold her car for $150 so she could buy her kids new school clothes, is going to vote for the first time in this election and add her voice to our democracy.

New Rules Promote Family-Friendly Workplace Policies

By Colleen Ross

October 5, 2016

Protecting and promoting the rights of workers is at the heart of Catholic Social Justice. The stories of people like Kathy whose “temporary” position does not provide insurance or paid sick days and Joan who shared the story of a nurse’s aide returning to work the day after experiencing a miscarriage show the need for continued advocacy on behalf of workers. Nationally, there are about 41 million workers who lack access to paid sick days, forcing them to choose between their health and a paycheck anytime they or a family member are sick. [1] This is both an exceptional and unjust state of affairs; every other developed nation requires access to paid sick leave for their workers. [2]

Members of Congress, Labor Secretary Tom Perez, and President Obama have called for legislation to provide American workers with paid sick days for years. In a significant step last week, the Obama Administration finalized a rule that requires businesses doing work on federal contracts to allow their employees to earn up to seven paid sick days a year beginning January 1, 2017. This rule could affect up to 600,000 people nationwide, and sets a strong precedent for businesses to follow.

In a related move last week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published its final revisions to the EEO-1 form that will be used to collect data to prevent pay discrimination in workplaces. Though we have made progress as a nation in decreasing wage discrimination based on gender, race, or ethnicity, pay gaps still exist. As Pope Francis said “Why is it taken for granted that women should earn less than men? No! They have the same rights. This disparity is an absolute disgrace!” [3] NETWORK supports both the EEOC and the Labor Department in these steps towards realizing more just and equal conditions for all workers.

[1] http://www.nationalpartnership.org/issues/work-family/paid-sick-days.html

[2] https://thinkprogress.org/the-u-s-is-the-only-developed-country-without-paid-sick-days-obama-is-calling-for-that-to-change-21af09694174#.d55xrlwdn

[3]General Audience, April 29, 2015 https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2015/documents/papa-francesco_20150429_udienza-generale.html

Voting: A Privilege and a Responsibility

By Mackenzie Harris

September 27, 2016

As a millennial and a “Pope Francis voter” I cannot stress how concerned I am for our nation during this Presidential election. We’ve been faced with some of the most hateful messages from potential leaders of our country – it’s embarrassing. Frankly it isn’t what the title President of the United States of America means to me.

I may sound like just another millennial complaining about the government, but isn’t that how it should be? Shouldn’t we all be working for a better, more just society? It is a privilege that we live in a place where we decide the leaders of our country, so why not take advantage of it?

In many ways I think we get lost in our privilege and forget that we have the responsibility to use it to lift up the voices of people on the margins. And because we are Americans we have the right to speak directly to the causes at hand by voting, contacting our Members of Congress, or speaking out in our community.

I moved to Washington, D.C. to join NETWORK, and to use my privilege to work for the greater good. I’m inspired by NETWORK’s mission and my peers, who speak out about the importance of voting. The truth is, voting is the primary way to have a say in justice. As an American, each and every citizen has a responsibility to hold our government accountable for their actions through civic engagement and activism.

However, questioning our democracy and not doing anything about it is just a scapegoat to push the responsibility onto someone else. And in reality, it’s up to everyone.

Whether you have zero interest in getting caught up in the “drama” of politics or would rather spend your time occupying your mind elsewhere, I encourage you to spend time educating yourself on the Presidential candidates and the importance of voting. NETWORK has created Side by Side comparisons of the major Presidential candidates, and Senate races in several key states to help you see where the candidates stand on our Mend the Gap issues.

Although I am discouraged by the bigotry and hate spewed this past year, I am looking forward to Election Day as a time for unity in our nation. I am excited for our people to come together to work for the common good. I believe in this country and especially the people in it, because when faced with adversities we can overcome and together we can create systemic change.

This is the government we have; now it’s up to us to participate so our democracy works by choosing our leaders, and lobbying them on issues we care about.

Do you want to be a part of the group that says “voting is pointless” or turns a blind eye while our nation is in desperate need of your support?

I hope not. Register to vote today!

Gaps are Closing, but More Must be Done to Create an Economy of Inclusion

Gaps are Closing, but More Must Be Done to Create an Economy of Inclusion

By Lucas Allen

September 22, 2016

Nearly nine years after the start of the Great Recession, economic recovery has been painfully slow for many Americans and vast economic divides remain. However, promising new data released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that 2015 was the best year of economic improvement for low- and middle-income Americans in decades. Here is some of the good news revealed in the report:

The poverty rate fell by 1.2 percentage points, the steepest decline since 1968
Real median household incomes rose by 5.2%, the largest increase since the 1960s
The percentage of Americans who lack healthcare fell to 9.1%, the lowest uninsured rate in our nation’s history

Most importantly, these economic improvements were distributed to all Americans—not just the wealthiest. This Census report shows that in 2015, our country made some much-needed positive steps toward mending the gaps in our divided society. While these improvements are certainly promising, a closer look at the report shows that we have much more work to do to create an economy of inclusion. The shared growth of the past year is welcome news, but it has not changed the reality that far too many people are struggling to get by in the world’s richest nation. It is a grave injustice that women, children, and people of color continue to bear a disproportionate burden of this suffering. The poverty rates of women who head families (36.5%), children (19.7%), and African Americans (24.1%) are all far higher than the average poverty rate of 13.5%.

One cause for hope in this report is that federal programs are working to lift people out of situations of poverty—they just need to be ramped up. The improvements our country makes, and the gaps that persist, are greatly impacted by policies and decisions made by Congress. For example, the Earned-Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) kept 9.2 million people out of poverty, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) kept 4.6 million people out of poverty. These large numbers are hard to picture, but they represent millions of families who are able to make ends meet with support from these programs.

In his address to Congress last year, Pope Francis said, “A political society endures when it seeks, as a vocation, to satisfy common needs by stimulating the growth of all its members, especially those in situations of greater vulnerability or risk. Legislative activity is always based on care for the people.” Programs such as the EITC, CTC, and SNAP are great examples of legislation based on care for people and the common good. If you and I make our voices heard this election season, we can ensure that programs like these are protected and expanded to create an inclusive economy and society.

More resources:

https://networklobby.org/election2016/sidebysides/

https://networklobby.org/election2016/

https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2016/demo/p60-256.html

Comparing the Candidates on Immigration Policy

By Laura Muñoz

September 21, 2016

As an immigrant, the 2016 Presidential race has caused me to reflect on my migration to the United States. In 1997 when I was 4 years old, my dad moved our family from Manizales-Caldas, Colombia to Miami, Florida. I remember thinking that my life was going to be different. I wasn’t sure in what capacity, but I knew that Miami was our new home. I never thought that it would be close to 20 years before I would have the possibility of going back to my home country.

Unfortunately, the possibility for me and millions like me, to be able to go back to our home country even to simply visit our families is in the hands of two individuals who have extremely opposing views. NETWORK’s side by side comparison clearly show Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump’s stance on comprehensive immigration reform, among other issues.

Hillary Clinton has made it a priority to pass comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship within her first 100 days of office. She also supports President Obama’s administrative relief efforts such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and his Deferred Action for Parents of Americans initiative (that still unfortunately has not been passed). On the contrary, Donald Trump has pledged that within the first hour of his presidency he is going to begin the deportation of all undocumented people in the United States (yes, all 11 million). He is set on making Mexico pay for the wall at the southern border and of course, he will triple the amount of immigration officers, and make it harder for refugees and asylum seekers to come to the United States.

It isn’t hard for me to choose between the two candidates. Partly because this election directly affects me, but also because Catholic Social Justice shows us that we, as a people, need to address the inequality and suffering in our world and confront it as Christians by using the Gospel. When we use this mindset and think about immigration reform, the decision becomes clear. As Matthew 25:35 states, “I was a stranger and you took me in.”

In this critical presidential election, we must remind ourselves of our values and our principles, and keep in mind that if not us, many of our ancestors were once immigrants in search of a better life.

Guest Blog: Sister Janet on Hateful Rhetoric in the Presidential Campaign

Sister Janet’s Remarks at Union Theological Seminary

Sister Janet Kinney, CSJ

September 1, 2016

On Thursday, September 1, 2016 Sister Janet Kinney, Executive Director of Providence House and a “Nun on the Bus,” joined Rev. William J. Barber, II and other national faith leaders to “speak out against hateful rhetoric and policies and the historical revisionism we are seeing in the Presidential campaign.” She said:

I am Sister Janet Kinney, a Sister of St. Joseph, and one of the 19 “Nuns on the Bus” who toured the country just a few short weeks ago. A project of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, I, together with my sisters, rode through 23 cities in 13 states, listening and engaging with others in various types of gatherings, comprised of diverse representations of our country.

We went on the road in response to the divisive rhetoric of this 2016 election cycle, and as an answer to Pope Francis’ call that a ‘healthy politics is sorely needed to resolve the widening income gaps, especially the racial/ethnic and gender wealth gaps. To mend these gaps we must have a politics of inclusion where everyone’s voice is heard and given serious consideration.

Our tour included stops at both national party conventions, participating in multiple conversations and caucuses in every city we visited. We visited sites of social justice ministries and met with faith and community leaders alike. As I listened, encountered and spoke with our brothers and sisters, I realized that it is so hard for people to find hope in the civil discourse of today. I heard heartbreaking stories of struggling families, of stark economic inequalities and blatant racism and discrimination.

People are hungry for hope and justice for communities that will stand together regardless of one’s race, ethnicity, or culture. This cannot be done through the damaging and hateful speech making that is being heard in this political season. We need to promote the common good, engage in constructive dialogue and create inclusive policies reflective of an authentic democratic society.

That is what I heard traveling as a Nun on the Bus – morning, noon and night – in the voices and cries of “We the People”.

Immediately following on this experience, over 5,600 religious sisters across this country signed a letter asking our presidential candidates ‘to engage in political dialogue that reflects the principles and values upon which this nation was founded.’ We implored these candidates to refrain from language that stokes the fires of fear and disrespects, dehumanizes or demonizes another. We urged them to engage in careful listening and honest dialogue. They must respect and treat all with the reverence that is a sacred God given right. It is then, only then, that we can together create an environment where everyone has a rightful place at the table and all are welcomed here in this, the United States of America.

What I Learned Touring America With Nuns on the Bus

By Sister Simone Campbell

August 10, 2016

How to sew the fabric of America back together.

In this age of the 24-hour news cycle, we must remind ourselves that America lives not at, but between, Republican and Democratic ideals. The “Nuns on the Bus,” as we are called, just returned from several weeks on the road (a lemonade stand in tow—it’s hot out there), traveling through the rust belt of the Midwest onto the industrial Northeast, looking for solutions to the gaps Americans face.

For Angie Whitman, the major gap is transportation. In Jefferson City, Missouri’s state capital, she told us that can’t get home from work because buses run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and she works until 11 p.m. When she’s too tired to walk the four miles, she takes a taxi, which leaves her begging for overtime so she can pay for it. She relocated from Ferguson, Mo., to get away from violence there only to encounter another gap—housing. She now lives in public housing for the first time in her life because it’s all she can afford. The housing is in the city center, but the jobs are on the outskirts.

We heard about housing and transportation gaps a lot. Transportation between city centers where lower income people often live and the outer ring where they often need to work and shop is a problem in many places—from Terre Haute and Ft. Wayne, In., to Erie, Pa., and Buffalo, N.Y. In Buffalo the transit drivers say they haven’t had a raise in seven years. At $13.25/hour, they’re barely above minimum wage.

Missouri is also one of 19 states that has not expanded Medicaid to cover low-income workers under the Affordable Care Act. For Angie, who is in her early 40s and has high blood pressure, this healthcare gap forces a stressful choice between her medicine and rent. Last month she chose her medicine, hoping she can earn enough in time to pay her rent before the end of the month.

Caring for kids is another gap many people talked about. In Concord, N.H., I talked with Amy Shaw on the steps of the state’s capital. Even with a Master’s degree in social work, she can’t afford to work. She’s staying home to care for their three kids while her husband works two jobs; yet they still can’t make ends meet. Nor can the childcare worker I met there, Jennifer Cole, who barely makes minimum wage.

Racism is another gap that is tearing the fabric of America. While in Concord, I was so touched by a blessedly intelligent, biracial 20-year-old Jazmine Langley a Bill Gates Millennium Scholar who was awarded a full college scholarship. She should have so much hope for her future, yet she spoke with such anguish about friends facing racism, including one whose father was killed by police. Only off-handedly, at the end of our conversation, did she add: “I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been stopped in my car for nothing—just because I’m black.” She keeps her student ID on top of her driver’s license and a college sticker on car. Not out of school pride, but for safety.

During our tour, we didn’t just ask about the gaps communities faced. We also asked about what would give them hope.

Something encouraging happened as Nuns on the Bus wandered its way through the streets of America, gathering each evening with folks to hear how they might mend the gaps across the American divide: tax injustice, living wage, family-friendly workplaces, and access to democracy, healthcare, citizenship and housing. The light bulb went on as people began to see how the gap they face is integrated with the gap faced by someone else.

In Toledo, Ohio, when the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), was helping train Hispanic high school students in community organizing, the “FLOC Homies” reached out to the city’s African-American students to negotiate protocols with the Toledo Police Department to improve relations.

When two students, Billie and Genesis, discovered that ten of the young women in just their one high school class had been sexually harassed or assaulted, these “FLOC girls” found a private foundation to fund a counselor, and they met with the Toledo school board and persuaded them to post phone numbers in school restrooms to report molestations. They united and mended that gap.

In Fort Wayne, I visited a wonderful parish program called Vincent Village, which helps move families of all colors from shelters to transitional and permanent housing. Four women here—three black and one white—told me that the program helped them discover something important: their dignity. I was reminded that so often we focus on the task but neglect the dignity and value of the person.

In Erie, Pa., our evening roundtable was a bubbling with possibility. We’d heard too many stories that day about crime, poverty and lost jobs. But that evening, talking to their neighbors about mending their gaps replaced depression with hope, and by the end people were exchanging phone numbers and promises to stay connected.

It became clear that so many Americans living in between Republican and Democrat divides are tired of the divisions being sown. Many are ready to work together to help sew the fabric of our society back together.

And that’s what gives me hope for our nation. Reweaving fabric doesn’t just stitch it back together, it makes it stronger.

Originally published at Time.com.

Travel Log: Concord and Manchester

Travel Log: Concord & Manchester

Sister Janet Kinney, CSJ

July 22, 2016

Although this year’s Nuns on the Bus journey began last week in Wisconsin, I only became an official “NOTB” yesterday. Travelling via Amtrak from my ministry as Executive Director at Providence House, a transitional and permanent housing organization in Brooklyn (founded by sisters of my congregation, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood), I joined the sisters in Albany, New York and began my acquaintance with wonderful women – some of whom I had already met at other experiences as a “Nun on the Ferry” and through NETWORK affiliated events.

1concord This morning as we prayed together and shared the scripture of the day, I was struck by this particular feast of Mary Magdalene, the woman who proclaimed to the disciples after the Resurrection “I have seen the Lord.” Thinking of the people I have met these two days, I too, “have seen the Lord” in the face of Christ in each of them. I have been blessed by their trust in sharing their stories, their dreams, and yes, their passion for justice and equality for all their brothers and sisters.

Our day began by travelling to the State Capital in Concord. Shortly before the event I was met with a big surprise – my very own cousin, Gail Kinney was the local coordinator of the rally! Gail is a New Hampshire resident, a minister affiliated with the Meriden Congregational Church, long time organizer for the United Auto Workers, and a member of both the United Church of Christ Economic Justice Ministries and Interfaith Voices of Faith groups. Who better than Gail to welcome us!

Like rallies held before this one, 4 local residents spoke on the gaps that have most intimately affected their personal lives. The rallies are a great illustration of the power of storytelling. Two mothers told stories of the challenges of raising young children and trying to support their families. The need for a living wage and the gap that currently exists is very real. Both women were well educated yet employment that paid a living wage eluded them. When Jazmin, a biracial college student got up and spoke and told us she carries her student ID in front of her driver’s license just in case she gets stopped by law enforcement, we knew that the racism gap is real. It was one of many humbling moments for me, a woman with white skin who has never had this worry.

1manchester1 In the afternoon, the Granite State Organizing Project of New Hampshire invited us to visit a public housing development in Manchester composed of 250 units which are occupied by an extremely diverse community. The residents proudly described their newly organized Resident Council, whose motto is “togetherness is community.” I thought of the tagline of my ministry at Providence House – “Creating Communities – Transforming Lives.” I felt a synergy with the residents’ desire here and the strength that we all find when we are part of a caring community that supports one another! We learned in our visit that in the past 2 years the council has developed a Homework club, English language classes, and other social activities for the whole community. Dot who participated in their leadership training program spoke of how she learned to plan and prioritize her goals, and after 2 years was now on track to move to Georgia to reunite with family. Dot was thrilled that we had come to visit and hear their stories. Another humbling moment, as I thought of the women and children back home at Providence House – have I missed similar opportunities?

1manchester2 The evening was a caucus event at Holy Cross Center Manor. Spirited conversations with men and women from the local community ensued on the seven gap issues, each sister being responsible for a different gap conversation to moderate. Mine was affordable housing -– a natural fit!

Attendees talked about the unique features of the New Hampshire “citizen legislature” that really only allows wealthier citizens to be elected, thus ensuring that the laws do not really benefit the 100%.

During the report out from the small groups, we had several refugees from Bhutan share about their gratitude for Social Security Insurance for the elderly, but at the same time say they were not able to earn a living wage. A lawyer from Ghana said she was not able to continue in her same profession here in the United States and that there were many refugees and immigrants who were highly educated, but who were forced to do menial, minimum wage jobs because their licensing or training didn’t transfer.

We also heard from people who called for a single-payer healthcare system, and for tax reform to create a more just, progressive tax policy. Before we left, all attending “signed on to the bus” signifying their commitment to working on the ‘Mend the Gap’ issues. I said a heartfelt good bye to cousin Gail, and put a close to a very full day. I felt enormously blessed!