Reaching for the New dear members Remember to vote The 112th Congress for new NETWORK Board Members! NETW RK A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby adjourned at 11 AM on Ballot can be found on the back page. NETWORK—a Catholic leader January 3, 2013, and the in the global movement 113th Congress commenced for justice and peace—edu- at noon the same day. The cates, organizes and lobbies for economic 112th Congress struggled to and social transformation. the very end to find ways to settle political differences in Have you registered yet for the NETWORK Board of Directors Regina Ann Brummel, CSJ order to govern our nation. 11th annual Ecumenical Advocacy Kevin M. Callahan Our voice as NETWORK Tom Cordaro W Days, set to take place April 5–8 just outside of had a significant impact in Patricia Mullahy Fugere Washington DC? The theme is “At God’s Table: Delia Gomez ensuring that low-income Lorena G. Gonzalez people are protected in the Food Justice for a Healthy World.” Mary Beth Hamm, SSJ http://advocacydays.org/2013-at-gods-table/ Donna Marie Korba, IHM first part of what is at least a Bernita McTernan two-part budget agreement. Patricia Mejia The fact that the admin- Rachel Pineda Ann Scholz, SSND istration was able to get the Contents Sandra Thibodeaux, MMB Earned Income Tax Credit Dick Ullrich and the Child Tax Credit envisioning NETWORK Education Program extended for five years and Opening our Hands Board of Directors the unemployment insur- 3 to the New Elizabeth Coyle Kit Hinga, SSJ ance for the long-term We have just completed a remarkable year at Dorothy Jackson, SCN unemployed extended for NETWORK. The challenge is to comprehend Barbara Lange another year is an amazing what we have become—and to be fully open Dean Manternach to where the Spirit will lead us. Kathleen Phelan, OP accomplishment. It takes Jerry Zurek these key antipoverty pro- cover story grams off the table in the NETWORK Staff My Year at NETWORK Communications Coordinator/Editor— next round of negotiations. 4 Working for the Common Good Stephanie Niedringhaus In some ways, this makes Coordinator of Annual Giving—Margaret Caitlin Villeta, who led our Election 2012 Brevig the next round more dif- project, shares what she learned about politics Executive Director—Simone Campbell, SSS ficult, but we know that and the common good during her time with us. Executive Director Assistant—LaTreviette together our advocacy does Matthews make a difference. Our voting record Field Coordinator—Jean Sammon Voting Record of the 112th IT/HR Coordinator—Joy Wigwe mantra in the next round 7 Lobbyists—Marge Clark, BVM; Mary Ellen needs to be “$1 more rev- Congress, 2nd Session Lacy, DC See how your legislators voted on issues that NETWORK Associates—Rachael Travis, enue for each $1 of cuts.” Ashley Wilson We know that there are a mattered. lot of cuts that can be made making a differencee NETWORK Education Program Staff NEP Coordinator—Shannon Hughes in Pentagon spending that Nuns on the Bus™ Update will make our nation both 15 NEP Associate—Ellen Albritton Our journeys of faith have continued Articles in NETWORK Connection may be safer and on a better finan- throughout the fall and winter! Here are brief reprinted. Please include the following on cial footing. This is where reflections from some who took part. the reprints: “Reprinted with permission the cuts need to start. from NETWORK, a National Catholic Social back page Justice Lobby, 25 E Street NW, Suite 200, So I encourage you to Washington, DC 20001, www.network- keep up your important Board Election Ballot for lobby.org.” Please send us a copy of the 16 reprinted article. work of advocacy in these NETWORK Members Fourth Quarter 2013—Vol. 41, No. 1 oh-so-challenging times. If you are a NETWORK member, please vote NETWORK Connection Our voice has never been for new members of our Board of Directors ISSN 0199-5723 using the ballot on the back page. (And if you Published quarterly by more effective. It is by are not currently a NETWORK member, please NETWORK working together that we join us today!) Ballots on the back page must PHONE 202-347-9797 FAX 202-347-9864 be postmarked by February 28 to be counted. E-MAIL: [email protected] can indeed meet our mis- WEB SITE: www.networklobby.org sion. You have accom- POSTMASTER: plished so much already! SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO Celebrate our success, but NETWORK • 25 E Street NW, Suite 200 Stay connected with us! Washington, DC 20001 keep going. Our nation www.facebook.com/NetworkLobby Annual dues: $50/$60 international. needs our advocacy! http://twitter.com/#!/networklobby Copyright © 2013 NETWORK. Cover photo: @GYI NSEA EdStock 2 Connection First Quarter 2013 www.networklobby.org envisioning Opening Our Hands to the New BY SIMONE CAMPBELL, SSS What a challenge this moment is for us! effectively use the new “resources” we being spoken to us at NETWORK. In NETWORK has more access and notori- have of access and clout, while remain- the midst of groping in the dark to find Wety than I have experienced in my eight ing rooted in the contemplative life that the way forward, Christ gives us peace. years here. We are sought to bring our brought us here in the first place? Can But this peace is not to be sheltered by “fame and clout” to policy discussions we continue to work together collab- resting on our laurels. Rather, the only and get our members involved. We are oratively while increased notoriety calls way forward is continuing to be sent seen as a political resource that can help for more structure in order to be effec- into mystery. Being sent as Christ was make policy happen. We continue to be tive? Are we secure enough as individu- sent means to touch the needs of those focused on mission, but we have new re- als to celebrate how each contributes to around us and let our hearts be broken sources to use in our effort to meet our the whole and not let envy slip into our on a daily basis. Broken hearts are the goals. Yet, it is challenging to know how spirits? Can we step into this new mo- antidote to the seduction of prestige. to use those resources without getting ment and not retreat into the old com- Broken hearts are the key to opening our sucked into the all too seductive prestige fort of “business as usual”? hands to welcome others and create new of being in Washington. As I prayed over these questions dur- forms of collaboration. When we k ow An illustration of this occurred on De- ing Christmastime, the Scripture that our need, we are impelled into this po- cember 28. I arrived on Capitol Hill to kept coming to mind is Jesus with the litical ministry. Let us pray together that, “swell the ranks” for a press conference Apostles post-resurrection. Jesus says to in this moment of change and challenge, pushing for a responsible fix to the fiscal them, “Peace be with you.” He then goes we can all be faithful to being. Let us use cliff that would protect the middle class on to show that he is indeed alive, but all of our newfound resources to be the and working poor families. I rode up on right after that Jesus sends the disciples means for bringing good news to those my bike, and the leaders asked if I would out, saying, according to John, “As the who are poor. lead the press conference. Although I Father has sent me, so I send you…re- wasn’t “dressed” for the occasion (I had ceive the Holy Spirit.” Simone Campbell, SSS is NETWORK’s Ex- on my casual parka and jeans!) I said if It seems to me that these words are ecutive Director. they did not mind, I was willing. BERNARD Then, one of the leaders asked how I would introduce myself. I told him R I was going to say I was Sister Simone ICHTER Campbell, the executive director of NET- WORK. He said I also needed to say I was a Nun on the Bus. He explained that one of the attractive things about us is that we are not focused on self-promotion, but in order to get our message across in the media we need to make these con- nections. This gave me pause! I did introduce myself as both from NETWORK and Nuns on the Bus (and got applause from the gathered folks). Senator Harkin and Congressman Van Hollen, who spoke at the event, thanked me for our leadership. When the daugh- ter of a community college administra- tor who was going to speak heard that I was introducing her mom, she asked if I would say her name too because it would be such an honor! Members of the press talked with me afterwards, and we all got our message out. But the experience has left me challenged. My current way of articulating this challenge is to ask: How do we learn to www.networklobby.org First Quarter 2013 Connection 3 C OURTESY OF NET W OR K Caitlin Villeta (far left) with NETWORK staff during office taping for “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” (Samantha Bee, from the show, standing in the center.) My Year at NETWORK Working for the Common Good BY CAITLIN VILLETA It is the summer of 2012, and I am sit- week on that bill,” contributes Sister they were making, which seemed base- ting in a small conference room eating Simone Campbell.