Sister Simone Campbell, known for the “Nuns on the Bus” tour criticizing Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan, spoke at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday.
Campbell, the executive director of NETWORK, a liberal Catholic lobbying group in Washington, called the Romney-backed Ryan budget "immoral" for proposals that would "harm families living in poverty," including cutting food stamp programs.
Her speech emphasized one of the evening's themes: shared responsibility. She said, "Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are correct when they say that each individual should be responsible. But ... faith strongly affirms that we are all responsible for one another."
She also echoed earlier speakers who presented health care as part of a pro-life stance. She shared a Cincinnati woman's story of a sister who could have been saved by the Affordable Care Act:
We all share responsibility to ensure that this vital health care reform law is properly implemented and that all governors expand Medicaid coverage so no more Margarets die from lack of care. This is part of my pro-life stance and the right thing to do.
Some perceive Sister Simone's speech as a Catholic "balance" for the Democratic ticket. Also taking the stage at the convention will be Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, who is suing the White House over the provision in the ACA requiring employers to cover birth control in insurance plans. Cardinal Dolan is leading Thursday's closing prayer.
Rev. Al Sharpton applauded a Campbell's political stance. During MSNBC's coverage, he said, "I'm more uncomfortable when we don't take a firm position." He added that it was about time Democrats worked to counter the perception that theirs was the "secular" and "ungodly" party.
Her most powerful line according to Rev. Sharpton? Sister Simone's story of a Pennsylvania woman who felt isolated because her neighbors "have been polarized by politics masquerading as values."
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Nuns who kicked bunz! Hah!
Nuns can do math too.
Republicans don't believe in evolution. In FACT they are de-evolving and soon will be gone forever! Yay!
BYE Willard! BYE Ryan! BYE GOP! BYE Tee Potty!
Paul Ryan and the Republicans should have learned long ago you do not pick fights with nuns because you always lose them because the nuns are always tougher. The GOP should learn that in a country like ours we must take care of the poor, the sick, and those in need. It does not mean anything special or extravagant, we just owe them the dignity of having food stamps and some other public relief so people on hard times can feed their families and have a place to live with access to basic family medical care. Sister Campbell is right, we need to remember that it is important to be our brother's keeper. It also makes economic sense to do so because homeless, hungry, and sick or hurt families cause much social unrest and instability that ends up costing more than the food stamps and minimal public relief. I served in the military so we can have a country that takes care of poor families nor do I mind paying some tax to help them out either. The tone and civility that we have towards other people in our society needs to be reestablished again. Compassion and empathy for those who are poor or going through hard times can only be taught by public service or military service or working in a public school or some other type of community service. We were not put here to be selfish consuming units, we need to have a social conscience. Because if life teaches you anything, if you get unlucky and lose a job or a home or suffer loss in an economic downturn, the person who needs assistance could be you or your family.
So true! And then they lean on their Bibles...sick!
We are so lucky to have two great presidents!
You GO - Young Lady -- Give Em All HELL .....................................
A woman of great courage, compassion, common-sense and actions of a TRUE CHRISTIAN!
Is this the best they can do for speakers, so glad seperation of church & state is alive and well at the DNC.
Oh thats right, it was when they left God out of their platform and put it back in after they were called on it.
What a bunch of morons.
Hey CONS, let's do some ARITHMETIC...
Name the Obama policies that added trillions to the debt and the amounts.
Then deduct that amount from the current $16 TRILLION.
The rest is GOP spending.
Spending to fix the GOP F'ups is still GOP spending and NOT Obama's fault so do not count those.
INTEREST ON the GOP created debt DOESN'T count either.
All progressives should start asking that question and doing that ARITHMETIC.
The CONS will NEVER have those numbers because they DO NOT exist.
I bet all you will get is NOTHING but insults and ridicule.
Hey CONS, let's do some ARITHMETIC...
Name the Obama policies that added trillions to the debt and the amounts.
Then deduct that amount from the current $16 TRILLION.
The rest is GOP spending.
Spending to fix the GOP F'ups is still GOP spending and NOT Obama's fault so do not count those.
INTEREST ON the GOP created debt DOESN'T count either.
All progressives should start asking that question and doing that ARITHMETIC.
The CONS will NEVER have those numbers because they DO NOT exist.
I bet all you will get is NOTHING but insults and ridicule.
I wonder what she thinks of the Democrats taking the word "God" off the platform. Then have them take a roll call, vote it down 3 times, then have chairman overrules the delegates. This is a circus.