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We the People, We the Voters dear members “Voting is a civic sacrament.” —Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. NETW RK This is another special A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby Connection issue devoted to NETWORK—a Catholic leader in the global movement NETWORK’s Nuns on the for justice and peace—edu- Bus campaign, an amazing cates, organizes and lobbies journey that has carried us for economic and social transformation. across the country several NETWORK Board of Directors times in the past two years. Regina Ann Brummel, CSJ We are now in the midst Kevin M. Callahan Tom Cordaro of another trip that began Patricia Mullahy Fugere Lorena G. Gonzalez on September 17 in Mary Beth Hamm, SSJ Des Moines and will Alice Kitchen Donna Marie Korba, IHM conclude close to Election Betsy McDougall Patricia Mejia Day. The theme of this trip Terence J. Moran is “We the People, We the Ann Scholz, SSND Voters,” and our goal is to NETWORK Education Program Board of Directors convince millions of people Delia Garcia Melba Rodriguez across our country to Dierdre Griffin Anna Sandidge Diane Guerin, RSM Judy Sharpe register and vote. Rudy Lopez Jerry Zurek We know that we will Buttons handed out by the Nuns on the Bus in Lexington, Kentucky Dean Manternach lose our democracy if we NETWORK/NEP Staff Managing Editor, Communications/Media cannot overcome the power Coordinator—Stephanie Niedringhaus Contents Campaigns & Organizing Specialist—Ashley of big money to distort Wilson our democratic process. envisioning Development Manager—Maggie Brevig Stories across Our Nation Election Organizers—Jennifer Maez, Kieran What I say is that we need 3 McCourt everyone at the table. I Sister Simone Campbell recounts some of the Executive Assistant—LaTreviette Matthews moving stories she and the other Nuns on the Executive Director—Simone Campbell, SSS know from our business Bus have heard on the journey. Fellows—Carolyn Burstein, Nancy Groth, Barbara Hazelett, Joan Neal roundtable discussions that cover story Field Organizing Associate—Felicia Carter people with big money are Field Organizing Manager—Shantha Ready NETWORK’s Nuns on the Bus Alonso fine people, but what I am 4 on the Road for Democracy Government Relations Associates—Colleen urging is that they leave Ross, Nicholas Moffa Our new bus trip began on September 17 and Lobbyists—Marge Clark, BVM, their moneybags outside will continue well into October. Here are firsthand Laura Peralta-Schulte accounts of what has happened so far. Managing Director—Paul Marchione the door and come sit at Membership Assistant—Megan Dominy the table of democracy with focus on the hill Policy Education Associate—Allison Walter Policy Education Coordinator—Colin us as equals. We need their 10 Why Your Vote Matters! Christopher voices and not their money. Will you vote in November? Here is vital Technology Coordinator—Joy Wigwe information about how the results of this election They cannot buy the table Articles in NETWORK Connection may be re- will impact critical issues that affect us all. printed. Please include the following on the re- of democracy. If they buy prints: “Reprinted by permission of NETWORK, spread the word a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, 25 E our table, it is no longer Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20001, democracy. 13 Vote as a Community. www.networklobby.org.” Please send us a We’re in This Together! copy of the reprinted article. I invite you in this Photocopy and distribute this handout— Fourth Quarter 2014—Vol. 42, No. 4 Connection to journey with and be sure to vote. Copyright © 2014 NETWORK. us on the bus. We the NETWORK Connection – ISSN 0199-5723 making a difference Published quarterly by NETWORK People, We the Voters must PHONE: 202-347-9797 FAX: 202-347-9864 Become a 100% Voting Faith show up in large numbers 15 E-MAIL: [email protected] Community or Workplace WEBSITE: www.networklobby.org this November. Help us Peer-to-peer encouragement is the most tried POSTMASTER: make that happen! and true voter turnout strategy. Use it in your SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: faith community or workplace this election. NETWORK • 25 E Street NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20001 Annual dues: $50/$60 international. Stay connected with us! Cover photos: Bus in Traverse City, Michigan (Bailey Dick photo); Michigan Nuns www.facebook.com/NetworkLobby on the Bus with representatives of St. Luke’s http://twitter.com/#!/networklobby NEW Life Center in Flint, Michigan 2 Connection Fourth Quarter 2014 www.networklobby.org envisioning Sister Simone Campbell with representatives from ARISE Chicago in poverty. They were worried that large Stories across Our Nation campaign contributions on all sides were negatively impacting our democracy. BY SISTER SIMONE CAMPBELL They themselves were beginning to feel September 30, 2014 we also find those who do not think that pushed out of the democratic process. I am writing this on our first day off voting makes a bit of difference. At the In Waterloo, Iowa, we talked with Safter two weeks on the road doing Nuns United Church of Christ in Muskeg- women who had been convicted of on the Bus—We the People, We the on, Michigan, several people said they felonies. The governor had decided by Voters. On this 5,200-mile journey we would not vote because it did not mat- executive order that people with felony have met many people and delighted in ter. I now wonder if maybe they were convictions could not vote. But these their stories. I want to share with you like Mary and not sure whom they could highly engaged women had found the just a few that touched my heart. trust in the process. I talked with Tanya, NETWORK website and the toolkit for At our Detroit Town Hall yesterday, the clerk in a local township, who said nonvoters. They were so excited to be Mary, an elderly woman, told us that a they have VERY low voter turnout. Even involved in this election. They are the problem in voting is that some people so, she has to get ballots printed as if engaged nonvoters. have trouble reading and need help. It 100% were going to vote. She worries Most provocative for me was a busi- brought home to me that it is challeng- about wasted paper and money for her ness roundtable in Chicago where six ing for many voters in this (and every) cash-strapped township. She urged us to business owners and four sisters talked election cycle to find someone they trust get voters to the polls if we were going to about business and the common good. to read the ballot and actually do what get people registered. I came away with new ideas, including they want. I talked with Sharon, who was stay- the insight that people who start and/or The Amalgamated Transit Union ing in the evening shelter at the Dorothy run businesses are competitive and that (ATU) also came to our Town Hall and Day Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the measure of success today is money. I talked about challenges people have just working to reclaim her life after being wondered if we could change that mea- traveling to the polls. Their members are in abusive relationships. She told me of sure so more money can be shared with willing to help, but linking up with those her struggle growing up in foster care workers actually making the wealth of who need transportation is complicated. and never really knowing what a settled companies and our nation. In Flint, Michigan, we met Rhonda, family life was. She was going to “try to People we have met have committed who just finished a three-year training vote,” but it was difficult because she to vote and signed our bus. I urge you program. Her self-esteem now leads her was so focused on just surviving. to join us on the bus and take our “I Am back to voting and caring about her neigh- In Council Bluffs, Iowa, we had a table a Voter” pledge as we strive together to borhood. She is coming to see herself as a full of self-professed Republicans, but make this a more perfect union! leader, and she spoke of gaining the cour- they were quick to explain they’re not age to speak up. What a gift she is to her “the crazy Republicans.” They had con- Sister Simone Campbell is NETWORK’s community as she starts to use her voice. cerns about government spending, but Executive Director and author of A Nun Everywhere, we meet women and agreed that something was amiss when on the Bus: How All of Us Can Create men striving to make a difference. But people could work full time and still live Hope, Change, and Community. www.networklobby.org Fourth Quarter 2014 Connection 3 NETWORK’s Nuns on the Bus on the Road for Democracy BY STEPHANIE NIEDRINGHAUS AND NETWORK’S NUNS ON THE BUS avid Gibson, a journalist with Religion News Service, ask people to pledge to be voters. We even left two blank areas humorously described the current Nuns on the Bus on the exterior of the bus for people to sign as another way to journey this way: “This time it’s the Catholic sisters ver- show their commitment to vote. Those spaces were laughably Dsus the Koch brothers.” A catchy description, but, of inadequate. Our entire bus is now covered with signatures! course, it doesn’t really go to the heart of what our new bus trip is all about. September 17: The First Day of our Bus Trip Earlier Nuns on the Bus trips focused on convincing elect- his year’s journey began in Iowa, just as our first trip ed officials to use their political power for justice.
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