From the outside, St. Sabina’s looks like any other church built early in the century. That, however, quickly changes the minute you walk through the doors. Your eyes are immediately drawn to a huge picture of a Black Jesus with his hands outstretched in welcome behind the altar. This church is all about preaching Christ’s message and living out His gospel values, and anyone who knows St. Sabina’s will attest to that fact.

Hospitable, smiling and hopeful faces welcomed us into this space and the tone of the evening was set by the youth choir who lifted up their voices and spirits in a beautiful rendition of Glory by Common. This song was particularly meaningful and appropriate as it was written for the movie “Selma.”

The struggle against oppressive structures and policies still continues many years after Selma. The poor are getting poorer, as elected officials choose to reward themselves and their cronies by creating policies that benefit themselves and them only. 

The people who attended the Nuns on the Bus Town Hall in Chicago are tired of the status quo and are wiling to work for change. This commitment was apparent as the audience represented people from different Chicago neighborhoods, but also a woman who had flown in from New York specifically to attend the event. A Sister had returned to Chicago early from a visit home to Cincinnati in order to participate in the gathering. Women and men had given their week night to come, learn, and share about how concerned citizens can unite to restore justice, hope and morality in their society.

The Republican tax bill and its ensuing effects are sinful, immoral, and reprehensible. Tp begin, today the lowest earners in the U.S. are in a worse-off position than they were 36 years ago. The rich have gotten richer while the majority of the nations inhabitants are teetering on the verge of poverty. 

Martin Luther King reminds us that, “Capitalism does not permit an even flow of economic resources. With this system, a small privileged few are rich beyond conscience, and almost all others are doomed to be poor at some level. That’s the way the system works. And since we know that the system will not change the rules, we are going to have to change the system.” This is the reason why the Nuns are on the Bus and this is why everyone eligible to vote must do so, and then hold their elected officials accountable for the rest of their time in office. 

View additional photos from this event here.

This morning’s visit with Representative Bost’s District Director, David Tanzyus, was mixed.  When we walked into the office, he very concerned as he told us about the death of the receptionist’s daughter. He continued by sharing that he was a social worker.  It gave me some hope that he was a man of compassion.

Sister Mary Ellen Lacy, Sister Gwen Hennessey, Sister Quincy Howard, and myself joined with two constituents, Larry Evans and Cheryl Sommer, as they shared their stories of health care issues and pain because of losing health care insurance.

Larry’s son was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and nearly bled to death. At the time of the second incident, he was laid off with decreased pension and no health insurance.  Cheryl had five children and is now raising her granddaughter while relying on the Affordable Care Act.

David’s response shifted. The questions raised by Larry and Cheryl about the ACA were not answered and in fact, dismissed. The statements from Mary Ellen and Quincy, from Network about the House Farm Bill and the tax policy were also denied and dismissed.

The most heard phrase heard as we left the office was that the encounter was a display of “indifference.”

After the visit, we headed outside to rally for accountability, and a small crowd had gathered. Rev. Norma Patterson spoke powerfully about the needs of local communities. We told the crowd about our lobby visit, and Larry and Cheryl shared their personal stories of how this tax law is hurting and will continue to hurt their families. We look forward to hearing more stories as we journey on!

View more pictures from the event here.

As we pulled up for the morning rally outside Representative Rod Blum’s office (IA-01), we were greeted by a cardboard, life-size cutout of Rep. Blum. After repeated requests for appointments to speak with him or for him to hold town hall meetings to no avail, his constituents began bringing this cutout to their gatherings.

Sister Robbie Pentecost, an Oldenburg (IN) Franciscan Sister who ministers in Appalachia, greeted the crowd and told them we’re on the road working for tax justice for the common good. Then, Cedar Rapids resident, and former NETWORK executive director, Sister Kathy Thornton, RSM spoke. Sister Kathy is also a former Nun on the Bus. She emphasized the hardships and struggle of people in Iowa, particularly obtaining adequate mental health services, affordable healthcare and other vital services. Having requested an appointment for Nuns on the Bus (more than once) to meet with Rep. Blum or his staff without  a response, she wondered aloud how he can represent Iowans without meeting or talking with them. How does he know of their struggles and concerns?

That is a growing frustration of people we’ve met along the way. “They won’t talk to their employers (their constituents),” as one woman lamented at last night’s town hall.

Recognizing her privileged position as a white woman with a Master’s Degree and a processional job with good health insurance, Nadia Gillitzer told us how she has to stretch her insulin and supplies from paycheck to paycheck. With insurance her medication costs $200 every month. Without, it would be $1000. “Just to keep her alive,” she noted.

After the rally, Sister Simone, Sister Kathy, Nadia and several others of us from the Bus went to the Congressman’s office. Five or six constituents spontaneously accompanied us. After buzzing in, an aide came to the door and let us in the entry way. The communications director joined her. We were not invited to come in to the office area and sit down. Sister Simone delivered a packet of information about how Iowans are being affected by the tax legislation that rewards the wealthy while making it harder on people in the lower quintiles economic brackets. Sister Kathy made it clear that she never received a response to her requests for an appointment. The constituents were clearly frustrated by repeated attempts to get meaningful responses to their questions from their representative and let it be known.

As we roll on, Kathy’s question echoes in my mind. How do elected officials represent their people when they isolate themselves from them, particularly from those impacted the most by policies they enact?

The sight of the St. Louis Arch always brings a feeling of ‘coming home’ as I spent 8 years of my ministry in St. Louis.  Arriving at St. Alphonsus “Rock” Church brought back even more wonderful memories of serving this community.  For a little over a year I served as a caseworker at the Blumeyer Public Housing Development which surrounds St. Alphonsus “Rock” Church.  I then went to work at St. Patrick Center in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s and was involved on the team that helped launch McMurphy’s Grill.  Living at Holy Trinity Parish and serving this area of the inner-city was both an adventure and a learning experience.  I gained so much from the local people with whom I served.  Learning that we were stopping in my old home territory thrilled me beyond words. So the sight of the crowd that greeted us was so exciting!

The crowd continued to swell in the gymnasium as we gathered.  More than 250 people crammed into the space with enthusiasm swelling.  People of all ages gathered to listen, learn, and share their wisdom.  Even more, I believe, we gathered to share hope for a future where everyone can flourish.  While many worked in social service programs and are seeing the impact of existing local and state budget cuts, there were a few that came to listen and learn.  One young man during a portion of small group discussion, finally spoke up.  He expressed that he was like “George,” our character that represents the 1% in the activity that the Nuns on the Bus Sisters use to demonstrate the impact of the Republican Tax Law.  He had a good job earning a significant salary and could afford things he wanted.  While he didn’t go into much detail and did not share what was going through his mind, it was obvious he was processing what he was hearing and that it was having an impact on him.

The Town Hall for Justice is an opportunity for Nuns on the Bus to educate interested persons on the impact of the 2017 tax law.  Through stories and a visual representation of the economic disparity that has taken place over the past 36 years – presented by the Sisters that are riding on the bus, the audience gets a clear picture of why the gap between the 1% and the lowest 20% has taken place.  They are moved further when the visual presentation begins to demonstrate the impact of the newly passed GOP Tax Bill.  There were obvious gasps throughout the crowd.  Many commented to us on how they were strongly impacted by the visual presentation of the economic data.  For a subject that normally gathers yawns and glazed over eyelids, those present were fully engaged and outraged. Reasonable Revenue for Responsible Programs is the call of this Nuns on the Bus trip.

The evening ended with a inviting participants to brainstorm solutions and what people can do in their communities.  Local propositions that would benefit seniors and increase the minimum wage were supported along with encouragement to educate neighbors, family and friends.  Sister Simone ended by encouraging the audience to build community and to lift each other up as we work to build a stronger foundation for the common good . . .the common good of all!  Our U.S. Constitution calls us to this very theme in its first words, “We the People.” As Sister Simone reminds us, it doesn’t say, “We the Citizens,” nor “We the Rich,” nor “We who are White.”  Rather – it says, “We the People.”  Sister Simone emphasizes that it is for all of us.

The most exciting part of the evening is the opportunity for the audience to sign the bus.  After only 10 days on the road and with another 2½ weeks to go the bus is nearly full of names and messages of support.  This is a sign that the message of hope and possibility is resonating across our country bringing together people of all ages, genders, nationalities, religious traditions and sexual orientations together.  This for me is what it means to be a faithful citizen of the United States of America.