A TALE OF TWO SISTERS

 

(photos: Internet)

 

 So the DNC has completed their case and the RNC is in their final day. I only listened in sporadically to both of their list of speakers and the internet is a blaze with clips and commentary on the highlights.

 As a Catholic, my ear was attentive to the message the speakers made to see if they aligned with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Catechism handy and a number of books and Catholic links to reference, there was a lot to digest.

Especially when you get to witness two Catholic nuns, one of each who spoke at one or the other conventions.

First up you had Sister Simone Campbell at the DNC. Wikipedia has an entry: Simone Campbell, SSS, is an American Roman Catholic Religious Sister, lawyer, lobbyist and executive director of NETWORK. She belongs to the Sisters of Social Service. She is known as an outspoken advocate for social justice.

she is a lawyer, lobbyist, social service activist.  Here's her presentation at the DNC.

SISTER SIMONE CAMPBELL, 2020 DNC 

Sister Deirdre “Dede” Byrne at the RNC gave her speech yesterday, 8/26. The National Catholic Register has a nice piece on her. 

She served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, in active duty in Afghanistan and later as a reservist, eventually rising to the rank of colonel. She served for 13 months in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. As a missionary surgeon, she devoted herself to helping the sick in Kenya, Haiti, Sudan and Iraq.  - NCR 

Here's her presentation at the RNC.

Sister Deirdre “Dede” Byrne, 2020 RNC

Sister Simone describes herself as an advocate for the environment, the fighter against poverty, workplace protections for mothers and immigration. All that is fine. To me these are all issues which I agree with. I may differ from her on her views on how to implement them. Medicare for all, no fossil fuels, open borders are not my answers to these issues as she views them, but we can have an open conversation on them.

 One topic that I don't agree with her on is on the topic of the unborn. she has called pro-lifers, pro-birthers which shows her tendency to support abortion. she diverts the direct question on abortion to say that folks that support laws to stop abortion don't follow through with laws addressing the child after birth. Her prayer to the divine spirit also caught me off guard. Seemed a little New Age to me.

Here's an article that she wrote around the 2008 elections. I don't see a firm voice from her condemning abortion as the teachings of the Catholic Church do. Plus this party has a platform of 'Abortion on demand.'..up to birth. I have a major problem with that. Definitely NOT Catholic teaching.

Sister Deirdre as a surgeon on the other hand, came right out and said it during her RNC presentation, "life begins at conception." There was no diversion or side stepping on the issue. 

Here's an article on Sister Deirdre

I'm still reading up on both Sisters and I don't doubt their faith as Catholics, but what I've learned, one can call themselves Catholics and don't follow church teaching. Both have dedicated their lives to serving others and both are highly educated. I don't know, I like a Sister in a habit, not one that looks like my grandma. To me that shows an outward dedication to let all around you know, who they serve first.