left: Judith Davidson Moyers introduces Sister Simone Campbell at the Third Annul Judith Davidson Moyers Women of Spirit Lecture, April 3, 2013. right: Sister Simone shares a light-hearted moment with Dr. Mary Boys.
As Sister Simone preached on the Road to Emmaus, we were reminded that her devotion to God and the Holy motivates her political commitments. As she said in her lecture, “[spirituality and activism] are integrated. It is a seamless garment that needs to be worn at all times.” Wearing this coat harnesses our anger so that it may be productive. Fighting against injustice, it is easy to let rage take over. Nevertheless, Sister Simone offers us another model. Having received her fair share of public backlash for her political commitments, Sister Simone has ample experience channeling anger. Last year, on April 20, 2012, Pope Benedict officially censured the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Sister Simone, and NETWORK. The Vatican criticized Women Religious for focusing too much of issues of poverty instead of focusing on other Catholic
fighting. While they seem dichotomous, they are, in fact, intertwined. She says, “When [radical acceptance and fight] become a unity my experience is fire. It’s like the fire of Pentecost. It’s the solid fuel and it is the flame, the passion, and then it’s the messy ash. And it’s the searing heat. But it’s the warm inviting light. It’s like God alive in our midst.” Sister Simone’s honesty provides us with the perfect example for faithful leadership. She acknowledges, and even celebrates, the messiness that comes with this work. Her description of fire reminded me of a conversation she and I had earlier. Waiting for her lecture to begin, Sister Simone casually asked me, “Have you ever gone through a raging feminist stage?” I assured her that I had. Then I laughed and told her that perhaps it hadn’t ended. She replied, “Oh, I couldn’t sustain mine, I was too angry, too worked up.” Listening to her lecture in the packed chapel, I began to understand what she meant. Sister Simone has certainly not let go of the fight, but she has found a way to sustain it. Just like the image of the burning bush, Sister Simone professes a model that is intense and fiery but does not consume us. Similar images are fostered here at Union. We too attempt to find synergy between religion and activism. Our faith motivates us; it calls us to take risks. Knowing this, we strive to find a better balance between ourselves, our work, and our understanding of the sacred. All of us engage in this in our own way. We listen to the wisdom of Sister Simone, we study great theologians, we ask hard questions, and we discern. Frederick Buechner defines vocation as when “our greatest joy meets the world’s greatest need.” Witnessing the success of the Nuns on the Bus campaign, it seems as though Sister Simone has achieved just that: vocation.
As Sister Simone preached on the Road to Emmaus, we were reminded that her devotion to God and the Holy motivates her political commitments. As she said in her lecture, “[spirituality and activism] are integrated. It is a seamless garment that needs to be worn at all times.” priorities, mainly abortion and birth control. This spring, Pope Francis reiterated his concerns about the “radical feminist nuns.” While the April 2012 censure caused pain, Sister Simone also expresses gratitude: The censure elevated NETWORK and gave birth to last summer’s ‘Nuns on the Bus’ campaign. Instead of seething in angry paralysis, Sister Simone explains how she pushes herself to find spiritual balance. In order truly to be in proximity to God, Sister Simone says she needs to see God within her enemies. Moreover, she says she needs to blend radical acceptance with
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union now | summer 2013