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September 5th, 2012
12:58 PM ET
Catholic nun brings her star power to DNCBy Dan Gilgoff, CNN.com Religion Editor (CNN) – Sister Simone Campbell got what may have been the biggest media platform of her life on Wednesday night, when she addressed the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. But the Catholic nun had plenty of star power before that. Walking around Charlotte this week, Campbell was repeatedly stopped by fans who wanted to pose for pictures. They had seen her on "The Colbert Report," pushing back on the Vatican's crackdown on American nuns, or read about the "nuns on the bus" tour that Simone organized to decry Rep. Paul Ryan's federal budget proposal. "One woman came up to me and said 'my husband loves you; I'd be jealous if you weren't a nun,' " Campbell, 66, said Tuesday night. By asking her to speak at their convention, the Democrats appear keen to capitalize on Campbell's budding celebrity at a moment when the official Roman Catholic Church has been critical of the Obama administration, claiming that it is infringing on religious liberty. And at a convention that is revolving largely around an alleged GOP-led "war on women," Campbell is a poignant feminist symbol. She has stood up to the Vatican's criticisms of American nuns for what the church says is their fixation on progressive advocacy at the expense of promoting socially conservative positions. "We're certainly oriented toward the needs of women and responding to their needs," she told Colbert in June, defending the nuns against the Vatican. "If that's radical, I guess we are." When party officials asked her to speak in Charlotte, she made it plain she'd do it only if she could give voice to her anti-abortion views. And when Democratic handlers revised a draft of her speech in a way that sounded too political to her, she told them she was happy to give her speaking slot to someone else. The handlers were more than happy to work with her to revise the revisions. On Wednesday night, Campbell said that Obama's health care law and expanding Medicaid coverage "is part of my pro-life stance and the right thing to do." It was the biggest applause lines in her speech, which was filled with big applause lines. "Paul Ryan claims his budget reflects the principles of our shared Catholic faith," Campbell said later in her speech. "But the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops stated that the Ryan budget failed a basic moral test, because it would harm families living in poverty. "We agree with our bishops," Campbell said. "I am my sister's keeper. I am my brother's keeper. Her parents took her the Democratic convention in Los Angeles to see John F. Kennedy. But she says her work has always been fueled by a passion for helping the poor. When she's not giving interviews and staging bus tours, she works as executive director of Network, a Washington-based group that describes itself as a "Catholic social justice lobby." In 2010, the organization played an important role in promoting President Obama's health care act at a time when the Roman Catholic Church opposed the legislation. The church alleged that the Affordable Care Act used federal funds to cover abortion (Democrats deny that claim). Campbell organized a letter of support for the Affordable Care Act that was signed by dozens of leaders from women's religious orders, giving the White House and Democrats political cover in the face of attacks from conservative religious groups. At a celebration after the signing ceremony for the law, Obama thanked Campbell for her help: "He gave me a big kiss and said I was a tipping point." Campbell, who joined a religious order after her freshman year at college, says her support for Obamacare grew out of a lifelong concern for the poor. "I remember as a kid, driving back from visiting relatives in Colorado and going through Indian reservations," she said. "I would cry because it was so hard to see such poor people. Something touched me." She got her J.D. with an eye toward advocating for pro-poor public policy but wound up hanging a shingle in Oakland, California, helping the working poor on family law cases. "For me, it was about being the gospel and living like Jesus did," she said. "Following folks who were suffering and at the margins, struggling hard to make ends meet. I was like a parish for the unchurched." Campbell later traveled the world as the general director of her religious order, the Sisters of Social Service, founded in the 1920s by Hungary's first female member of parliament. At Network, Campbell's proudest accomplishment is helping pass Obamacare. But she also boasts of becoming an early thorn in the side of Paul Ryan, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's running mate, by organizing the "nuns on the bus tour" in May. The nine-state trip from Iowa to Washington was aimed at attacking the federal budget Ryan drew up as the chairman of the House Budget Committee. The Ryan plan, in Campbell's view, "set up this total undermining of government services as a way for there to be additional tax cuts for the wealthy." America's Catholic bishops also criticized Ryan's budget. But weeks before the nuns on the bus tour, the Vatican issued a bruising assessment of many American nuns, saying they offered a platform for "radical feminism" and played down church teachings on abortion and gay marriage. To some church watchers, the nuns on the bus tour represented a thumb in the eye of the assessment from Rome. But Campbell, who is not formally a part of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the group singled out by the Vatican assessment, has not been shy about saying that the church hierarchy is out of touch with the church's religious life. "The shock made me numb at first, and then I was profoundly sad that my life as a woman religious and my commitment to serving the poor would be so denigrated by the leadership of our church," Campbell said this year, responding to Vatican criticism of American nuns. Campbell didn't mention the nuns' tiff with Rome in her Wednesday night speech, but her mere presence raised the profile of women religious leaders at a time when the Democrats say women are under attack. |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Sr. Campbell WAKE UP. You're being used as a propaganda tool. Ryan-Romney's plan is not perfect but it is a starting point to saving this country from financial ruin which will HURT ALL FAMILIES and devastate the safety net completely.
Moody is considering lowering our country's credit rating...
See http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-11/u-s-rating-may-be-cut-by-moody-s-if-debt-to-gdp-not-reduced-1-.html
Sr. needs to stop driving around in a luxury bus and realize that many financially sharp Dems NOT merely giving lip service for re-election are WILLING to talk about the ELEPHANT in the living room – the incredible debt. EVERY dollar spent by the USA comes from borrwing 40 cents. 40% is BORROWED with peresntly no plan or possible way of paying it back.
Maybe not in sister's life time but definitely in the life time of 20-30 somethings the DEBT will crush our economy. What happens to the safety net then? Does sister care about teh future families and children in need? She cannot be that short sighted.
WAKE UP! Dems and Repub who want re-election will GIVE AWY THE FARM. Every politician who is not worried about fixing our countries debt – REGARDLESS of political party SHOULD NOT BE ELECTED. Cut spending ACROSS the board – no more wars, less corruption, TORT reform, reform OBama care to help people – not crush our economy, bring Government unioins in line with non-union pay and benefits – ESPECIALLY our policitians sweet deals, limit spending on election campaigns, give tax credits to those who HIRE and TRAIN new employess (over five years of new employment), give tax credits for NEW construction of homes and businesses in plighted areas of cities. CUT the wasted subsidies to corporations and civic groups that add nothing to the economy or our people BUT exist to get politicians re-elected AND make money for themselves with our tax dollars.
Handouts are needed – but should nto become the only way a family survives. If sister really worked with families she would see teh destruction that many black Christian ministers recently spoke out aginsty...and got little press. Generations of Chicagoans are "hooked" on welfare...several generations! It is how they reaise their children to view their future – no schooling, no hope, nio dreams of a better life...nope welfare and food stamps. Families that need help – NEED REAL help – life skills, job training, HOPE for a BETTER future. If this costs money then let's spend it...but not writing checks with no HOPE...no future and no clue on teh ramifications that the crushing DEBT will have very shortly in AMerica.
A balanced budget is JUST a start. WE need to pay down our debt – which will mean more cuts in the short term. After our debt is paid down, the SAVINGS on interest payments alone can be plugged into helping people instead of bankers and foriegn nations who hold our debt and are making HUGE dollars in interest payments while we struggle. WAKE UP Sr.
Once again the media gets it all wrong. She's not a nun, she's a sister. big difference.
She is not in communion with her Church. You can't call yourself "Catholic" and yet stand against what the Catholic Church believes in. When you say you are Catholic, you're beliefs should be in alignment with the Church. If they are not, then don't call youself Catholic (you listening Caroline Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, and Joe Biden?).
I have found nuns in particular to be the most unresponsive toward women with children. That was when I left the Catholic church permanently.
This is a common struggle for so many of us who are pro-life. Do we vote for someone who promotes a pro-life stance on the issue on the right of life itself or for someone who has employed a health care plan that seeks to give access to the poor? Their lives are just as important. But with the current health care model, with expenses on the rise, what long-term gains would be had for everyone if all the funding runs out. Money does not come from thin air and we all have to think about how the gov with the current model it has plans to sustain these high health care costs. What is their take on reducing our expenses and costs? The answer cannot continue to be a socialist platform because everyone will run to international banks. I hope we all do our research and due diligence to really look at the plans set before us and the underlying goals these politicians have. I wonder if the speaker researched into the actual plans the Republicans have. Romney has made no indication of adopting Ryan's previous plan. Are Ryan's plans put forth through the media clearly being reported? This leaves me wondering what will be done. Still undecided. For me, certain issues trump others, and for others the priorities change.
I've had the same issue Kat but finally resolved it by asking myself this question: "How can there be any social justice without the right to life first?". The right to life is the first divine ordinance called out in the Declaration of Independence. The right to life is fundamental to the sanctiity of life (seems redundant but it's not). The right to life is essential for the formation of families which are the building blocks of society. Therefore without the right to life, we are a culture of death and our so called "social justice" is a sham.
In the political realm, it has to be about fairness to all and that means equal choice. Most opponents who would restrict women's choices seem to be men, infertile women, or women sworn to chast.ity. This does not mean that all fertile women are co.ntemplating co.ntraception and abortion, but that they understand the importance of fair choice.
A Nun, That needs to consult a priest. Obviously misguided.
Obvious how?
http://www.cnn.com
THE NEWS NOW
.B"H
LET MY PEOPLE GO – HILLIARY CLINTON AND hussein Obama
OBAMA. LET JONATHAN POLLARD GO NOW LET MY PEOpLE GO
??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBZhTaf1oU
B"H
LET MY PEOLE GO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBZhTaf1oU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBZhTaf1oU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBZhTaf1oU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBZhTaf1oU
LET MY PEOPLE GO
B"H
LET MY PEOPLE GO SENETOR HILLIARY CLINTON
AND PRESIDENT OBAMA. LET JONATHAN POLLARD GO NOW
LET JONATHAN POLLARD GO NOW. WHAT WAS IS AND WILL BE
IN THE FUTURE. LET MY PEOPLE GO. LET JONATHAN POLLARD GO.
MR. ROMNEY.
LET MY PEOPLE GO LET JONATHAN POLLARD GO NOW ON HUMANITARIANISM.
HE SERVED LONG ENOUGH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBZhTaf1oU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBZhTaf1oU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBZhTaf1oU
NEWS RELEASE: JERUSLAEM, ISRAEL
18:16
ReportedNews Brief
9/3/2012, Elul 16, 5772
MKs to Discuss 'Deterioration' of Relations With US
MKs will meet next week to discuss Israel's current relationship with the United States. The special session will be held next Wednesday, and was called by Kadima MKs, to discuss “the drastic deterioration of relations between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Barack H. Obama
NEWS RELEASE: JERUSLAEM, ISRAEL
18:16
ReportedNews Brief
9/3/2012, Elul 16, 5772
MKs to Discuss 'Deterioration' of Relations With US
MKs will meet next week to discuss Israel's current relationship with the United States. The special session will be held next Wednesday, and was called by Kadima MKs, to discuss “the drastic deterioration of relations between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Barack H. Obama
http://www.cnn.com
http://WWW.CNN.COM
B'H
NEWS RELEASE: JERUSLAEM, ISRAEL
18:16
ReportedNews Brief
9/3/2012, Elul 16, 5772
MKs to Discuss 'Deterioration' of Relations With US
MKs will meet next week to discuss Israel's current relationship with the United States. The special session will be held next Wednesday, and was called by Kadima MKs, to discuss “the drastic deterioration of relations between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Barack H. Obama
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING MY NAME IN YOUR PLATORM.
B"H
PLEASE ASK THE CANDIDATE THE FOLLOWING QUESTION.
JONATHAN POLLARD HAS SPENT ENOUGH TIME IN PRISON.
IT IS TIME THAT HE IS PARDONED.
WILL THE PRESIDENT PARDON JONTATHAN POLLARD ON
THE PLATFORM OF HUMANITARIANISM
WILL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGREE TO LET
JONATHAN POLLARD GO BACK TO ISRAEL
WITH HIS WIFE ESTER AND LIVE THEIR LIVES IN
ISRAEL ONCE IF POSSIBLE THE PRESIDENT
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGREE TO THIS.
LET MY PEOPLE GO. PLEASE PARDON JONATHAN POLLARD
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE SPEECH THAT WAS MADE IN CAIRO
THAT THE CURRENT PRESIDENT
HUSSEIN OBAMA MADE IN EGYPT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBZhTaf1oU
DOES THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
DOES HE AND THE REST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WANT THE TORAH?
DO THEY WANT THE ISRAELITES, THE LEVIHIM AND THE KOHANIM AND DOES THE WORLD AND WILL YOU PLEASE
ASK MR. ROMNEY, AND HIS CONVENTION THE FOLLOWING QUESTION.
WE THE ISRAELITES, THE LEVIHIM AND THE KOHANIM
WE WANT TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE WORLD TO
BUILD THE 3RD TEMPLE.
WE WANT TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION TO THE WORLD
THROUGH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THE TEMPLE INSITUTE IN JERSUSALEM WILL HELP THE
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES WITH
PERMISSION.
MR. ROMNEY THE FOLLOWING QUESTION IS DIRECTED TO YOU.
DO YOU MOURN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SECOND TEMPLE AND WILL YOU ALLOW THE ISRAELITES, THE LEVIHIM AND THE KOHANIM TO SERVE HASHEM IN THE LAND
B"H
IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE
PLEASE ASK THE CANDIDATE THE FOLLOWING QUESTION.
JONATHAN POLLARD HAS SPENT ENOUGH TIME IN PRISON.
IT IS TIME THAT HE IS PARDONED
LET MY PEOPLE GO SENETOR HILLIARY CLINTON AND hussein OBAMA. LET JONATHAN POLLARD GO NOW
LET MY PEOLE GO
Rabbi Chaim Richman answers President Obama's Cairo speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBZhTaf1oU
WORLD VS ISRAEL. HILLARY CLINTON-THIS IS A MESSAGE FOR YOU – LET MY PEOPLE GO. FREE JONATHAN POLLARD NOW. LET MY PEOPLE GO BARRAK HUSSEIN OBAMA – NOW!
The Land of Israel is the Promised Land given to our forefathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob and is given to us, their seed, as an everlasting Inheritance.
MAZEL TOV.
MR. ROMNEY, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
LET MY PEOPLE GO SENETOR HILLIARY CLINTON
AND PRESIDENT OBAMA. LET JONATHAN POLLARD GO NOW
LET JONATHAN POLLARD GO NOW.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBZhTaf1oU
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2012/07/29/sot-romney-blitzer-irsael.cnn
NEWS RELEASE: JERUSLAEM, ISRAEL
18:16
ReportedNews Brief
9/3/2012, Elul 16, 5772
MKs to Discuss 'Deterioration' of Relations With US
MKs will meet next week to discuss Israel's current relationship with the United States. The special session will be held next Wednesday, and was called by Kadima MKs, to discuss “the drastic deterioration of relations between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Barack H. Obama
http://www.cnn.com
http://www.cnn.com
http://www.cnn.com
THE NEWS NOW
The citizen Campbell might accept abortion, sterilization and contraception.
The Catholic Campbell did excommunicate herself by accepting the above evil.
No soundly reasoning Catholic would accept Miss Campbell calling herself a "nun".
Blessed Mother Teresa, please intercede for the salvation of the soul of "sister" Campbell.
Did you read the article? She's not pro abortion. READ!!!
If I claimed to be a Democrat but donated heavily to the Republicans, you would say I was a hypocrite. This is also true of someone who claims to be Catholic but constantly derides the Catholic Church. She is a "cafeteria Catholic" at best. Things like health care, education, high standard of living and the like do not matter to the 10 million preborn humans who were aborted since Roe v Wade. We give more protection to unborn sea turtles and eagles that to preborn humans. Even people accused of the most heinous crimes are given a trial, free lawyer and countless appeals before they can be given a death sentence. Who cares about innocent preborn babies? Certainly not the Democratic party!
I beg to differ...she's a nun for the 21st century.....
we give more protection to sea turtles? care to support that?
From the NOAA office of protected resources:
Status of Sea Turtles
All sea turtles occurring in U.S. waters are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and are under the joint jurisdiction of NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
i see....so, sea turtles are an endangered species and are afforded protection under the law. humans, on the other hand, are not endangered....
No sam they are not. It is legal to kill an unborn child but it is a federal crime to kill a sea turtle.
My dear friends, I would like to point out that if you are Catholic who accepts all of the moral teachings of the Church that you can't vote for either candidate. So the question is where you compromise. We do not believe in divorce, abortions or the death penalty. We are taught that there is a preferential option for the poor, The Church condemns Communism, but also free trade economics. There was a time when I voted Republican because of the pro-life stance, but then it became obvious that the party was not even making a good faith attempt to honor that part of the platform. i now feel that there is no choice other than to vote Democratic, because at least there is some minimal respect for the downtrodden and the workers. The good sister has simply made a decision that the needs of the majority of the population are more important that a lost fight against abortion. She lives the life she preaches, and I am only sad that our Church is no longer bringing forth as many servants of the people of God.
Thanky you, messymarsy.
For saying what I've said for a while. in the 36 years that 'ban abortion' has been a Repulican party plank, they've done little to attempt to do anything about it. (yes, late term abortion was banned, but that was bipartisan, not Repulican motivated).
Here's from Cathechism.
"The Church has rejected the totalitarian and atheistic ideologies associated in modem times with "communism" or "socialism." She has likewise refused to accept, in the practice of "capitalism," individualism and the absolute primacy of the law of the marketplace over human labor. Regulating the economy solely by centralized planning perverts the basis of social bonds; regulating it solely by the law of the marketplace fails social justice, for "there are many human needs which cannot be satisfied by the market." Reasonable regulation of the marketplace and economic initiatives, in keeping with a just hierarchy of values and a view to the common good, is to be commended."
For Sister Cambell, (as for the American Catholic Bishops, and there 4 letters to Congress) the Ryan budget plan fails Catholic ideals of Social Justice. (Notably, Ryan's reponse to these letters was to attempt to debate the bishops from the idea that people shouldn't become 'dependent' on the state. His 'reasons' for pulling parts of the safety net out is to make people more self reliant. He stands in the false assumption that they are simply lazy, it seems. .
B"H
JERUSALEM: ISRAEL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=947by3X6_RU
hinduism, criminality of a hindu Jew, terrorist self centered, expect nothing better from a hindu Jew, terrorist self centered but his hindu Judaism, criminal self center ism, secularism, as from a pig, self centered, secular. To learn hinduism, corruption of truth absolute by hindu's, denires of truth absolute, please visit http://www.limitisthetruth.com/ and click on word Choice to open file.
hinduism source of hindufilthyracism.....you are one seriously disturbed and s-crewed up individual arent you?
I am ashamed where my Church has gone. If it continues to harp on birth control and abortion as the only issues it cares about and leaves the social justice (works) as a cause it no longer cares about, then it is doomed in the long run. When the Church turns on women religious, the people who do the Church's work for the poor and down trodden, it has started to sound like the American evangelical churches that are the least Christ-like. But I am not the one who will determine where these un-Christian people go; only God will decide. Just don't think I would like to be in their position.
Henry, I understand your support of the good sisters. Their work is very important and their image is easy to sympathize with. I would encourage you to read the Humanae Vitae to see how the Church's philosophy on the sanctiity of life from conception is the fundamental basis for all social justice. In the proper perspective, it is easy to see that the nun's have lost sight of the forest for the trees.
I think what you see being reported is what the media asks Catholics to respond to. I do not think it is a reflection of "all the church cares about". It is still one of the leaders in social efforts worldwide. The catholic church is usually one of the first responses for national disasters that take place or worldwide disasters. If you look up catholic relief services you will see they are high on lists of philanthropy efforts in the nation and that is considering the tons of philanthropic efforts and orgs the world and nation put forth.
If you are Catholic, you are also part of the Church and can do things in your daily life that can help others understand the true meaning and beauty of being Catholic and improve the direction for future generations.
Some of the anti catholism in these posts reminds me of the catholic haters in the bible belt i have had to deal with in the past.
nuns and priests...what a sick wierd system
your comment just shows how skewed your frame of reference is. Catholic religious people have spent generation after generation caring for the poor, staffing hospitals, building universities and high schools to educate western civilization, campaigning for human rights and social justice, preserving western literature and medicine, contributing to science, art, literature and music. Yeah, I'd say you are lost.
To Satanluv, your name speaks volumes. You are an ignorant, sick, morally corrupt individual. YOu are badly in need of prayer and whether you lke it or not, I have added you to my prayer list; you have no say in this matter, poor thing.
Nothing in human experience is absolute; when good is out of reach, the lesser of two evils may be the proper choice.
Wow a political nun!
It must take a huge lack of conscience to be a member of the Catholic church.
No filled with hinduism, ignorance. Visit http://www.limitisthetruth.com/ and click on word choice to open file.
Your comment underscores how clueless your understanding of Catholicism is. Being a Catholic and living the teachings of Christ requires a well formed conscience, one that is not formed at the whim of the fashion and social agenda of the day.
Martin, you, along with this nun, are both idiots. You are morally corrupt to make the statement you made.
The reason Catholicism is under attack is because suffer envy when they are not part of the ine true church,
the one church Christ hImself began. You are officially added to my prayer list, You have no say in the matter
because I need your need. The morally corrupt like yourself are not the real Catholics. You and this sick nun
are pathetic.
Wow. The level of self rightgeousness is palpable Gabriel.
Being so, it ery easy for you 'discount' anyone who doesn't believe exactly what you do. Preserving your worldview.
I'm not even sure Gabriel understands what Mark is saying.
This is a good point to reflect on. Trying to do too many things, gets one removed away from the main issues, ie God and love. Helping poor to the extent that the poor are able to look after themselves, and you as a nun, Sister Simone Campbell follow the dictates of your creator and God, not of a politician, Obama. The moment that you think that you cannot submit to the Vicar of Christ on Earth – the pope, in matters of faith, you are in trouble. The poor have God and not you sister simone campbell and least of all Obama, who tries to play God. He removed God from DNC platform to appease muslim voters and atheists.
Christ, savior is hinduism absurdity of Magi hindu's, fortune teller crook,s, by profession, labeled as Vatican and follower of hindu Mithraism, pagan savior ism by faith, hinduism, corruption of truth absolute, for truth about hinduism, criminality of hindu Magi's, criminal tricksters please visit http://www.limitisthetruth.com/ then click on word choice to open file.
Between Kennedy and this nun, the church should be distancing themselves from both.
The Catholic Church is fixin' to be thrown down and trampled underfoot by the beast it has been riding, which is represented by this liberal woman.
Revelation 17 and 18.
bla bla bla...bunch of nonsense
Fool