You Go, Sister!

I've just listened the best political speech I've heard all year and the best sermon of my life--given by a  Roman Catholic nun, Sister Simone Campbell. It may be the first time I've listened to a sermon from start to finish, all 13 minutes of it.

Sr. Simone's heading up the "Nuns on the Bus" tour of seven states to bring attention to the budget passed by the House of Representatives, which would decimate programs and services for the poor.   A lawyer who ran a legal clinic in Oakland for 18 years, she's a member of the Sisters of Social Service (who knew?).  Now she's Executive Director of NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby.

Google "nunsonethebus" and you'll get to hear her speak.   Do it, and ask yourself  a) if you wouldn't vote for her for President, and b) if you wouldn't consider joining her order if you had in mind becoming a nun.  She weaves law, policy, religion, and snarky asides about Republicans and Wall Street into a stand-up-and-cheer sermon.  She's on the side of feeding people and promoting HeadStart, and "sharing the bread like Jesus did so everyone can be fed," as she told Stephen Colbert.

Needless to say, according to the New York Times, NETWORK was singled out in the Vatican's recent critique of American nuns.  Good enough for me.