Talked to a Catholic Sister tonight on my phonebank shift.

[LongTomH]

I missed what order this wonderful sister belonged too; but, while she quickly informed me that she couldn't volunteer for the Obama campaign, she would vote for Mr. Obama.....and so would about 90% of her order.

It seems that, while the Catholic bishops are strongly in the Republican camp on the abortion issue, the nuns largely vote on social justice issues, meaning they're strongly Democratic.

She was very sweet and supportive; she says she will be praying for the Obama campaign as well as voting. I thanked her and said we need every prayer and vote we can get.

I do need to mention that my late sweetheart, Jeanne, was a devout Catholic who was devoted to the social justice teachings of her church.

[Tumbulu]

1. Thank you for doing the phoning

and for sharing good news with us!

[calico1]

31. Nuns have always been more Progressive n/t

[busterbrown]

2. Yea, The Bishops care about money and Libido while the Sisters care about humanity.

[eridani]

21. Nuns Rule! Bishops Drool! n/t

[JNelson6563]

28. lolz Well said!

[joeybee12]

30. +1

Exactly!

[LTR]

3. I know Catholics get bashed here alot

But, while they tend to be very rigid on abortion, homosexuality, etc., social justice is very, very important. This is something the corrupt and greedy Pat Robertsons of the world will never understand.

[JDPriestly]

16. Agreed. I wish that fundamentalists shared the fervor of Catholics for social justice.

[LTR]

27. I can at least respect the Catholic church for consistency

They are staunchly pro-life, but that means all life. Pope John Paul II was very anti-war, and the church has always been very aggressive in battling poverty, unlike the fundies.

Still, I do believe the church is very backward when it comes to the role of women and sexuality, among other things.

[JDPriestly]

29. Agreed. But I don't think that the nuns are backward when it comes to the role

of women. I think they are very strong women who feel the repression of their church and are the stronger for the efforts they make to live their religious beliefs while still doing what is right in the world.

I'm overgeneralizing, and I am not and never have been a Catholic. But that is my impression looking at the nuns from the outside. They are a very dedicated group of women. I respect them.

[Cha]

4. Thank you so much for posting the encouraging news from your

phonebanking, LongTomH!

[freshwest]

5. K & R but the Rec's not working. Thanks for the good news.

[LongTomH]

6. This was a 'feel good' response after so many rude responses.

One person I called was at least original in blowing me off: "You are the weakest link, goodbye!"

You gotta keep a sense of humor!!!!!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. This is wonderful to hear!

I cannot thank you enough for what you're doing. You're one of the people that is going to make 4 more years for Obama possible!

[BlueStreak]

8. I'm an atheist, and I have never met a nun I didn't really like and admire

I can't share their belief in the supernatural, but these women are a force of nature here on earth.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

9. Admire, sure.

Like? Well, it shows you didn't go to a catholic school.

[pnwmom]

19. I went to a Catholic school, and we had wonderful nuns. Your experience was your experience. n/t

[LTR]

25. I was just gonna say...

...Yow!

Plus that Mother Angelica on cable TV is a bit of a snot.

[glinda]

10. I went to Catholic Private Schools for 11 years and

the Sisters were a huge influence on me in a good way. They were highly educated and amazing women. Quite outspoken.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

13. Like I said, admire, sure.

Maybe I was a stinker? They scared the heck outta me! Lol!

[glinda]

32. Always good and bad people. Perhaps I got lucky.

[deadbrokediva]

17. Maybe today they are

But when I was growing up in Catholic school, nuns were nothing more than abusive emotional terrorists. I suppose today they can't get away with all that ear-pulling, and knuckle-bashing I was on the receiving end of. Personally, I can't imagine why any woman would align herself with a corporation like that. There are plenty of ways to be of service without sacrificing your life and letting men rule you.

[pnwmom]

20. The nuns at my high school were warm, kind, and caring.

Not an ear-puller or knuckle-basher among them.

On the other hand, corporal punishment was still practiced in the public schools I had attended in another state.

Maybe it depends more on your region and era than it does whether your teacher was a nun or not.

[LTR]

26. Just like the Penguin

[Historic NY]

11. Thank you Tom, the nuns work the trenchs.

[Freedomofspeech]

12. Thanks for your work and

Love those nuns!

[beac]

14. My proposal for a new hymn for the Catholic nuns:

[Tigress DEM]

15. Back when women were still property.... the Convents where Nuns took their vows and lived....

took in unwed mothers to have their babies and even though I guess most were adopted out it was an alternative to abortion in an alley.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

18. K&R

Nuns were teachers when I was in school. Thanks for sharing.

[HooptieWagon]

22. If the Church fired the Pope and Bishops...

and let the Nuns run things, it would be a huge improvement.

[Fawke Em]

23. Amen.

I'm a lapsed Catholic, but I still visit my nun friends.

They are the backbone and the heart or the Church.

[Smarmie Doofus]

24. Why does everyone assume that all catholics are skinheads?

I left the church a million years ago but other lefties stayed.... for a lot of reasons.

In fact... if the abortion divide were not so un-bridgeable, the entire political dynamic would be different.