Nuns on the Bus 2015: Responding to Pope Francis's Challenge

Bridge the Divides: Transform Politics

The Context
Pope Francis is coming to Washington, D.C. in September and NETWORK wants to
capture this moment in history through a Nuns on the Bus tour that listens to the
stories of those on the margins, and raises them up along with the challenge the
Pope brings to the United States Congress.
Pope Francis's message brings us joy as it echoes our 43-year-old message on
Capitol Hill and around the country. The Pope is not talking about charity; he is
talking about transforming our economic system. In Joy of the Gospel, he says what
we have known since the 1980s: trickle-down economics is a failure. In his recent
encyclical, Laudato Si, he calls for an end to a culture of indifference, and for a
culture of encounter with real people. He calls on our politicians to take action to
control the economy in order to benefit all. It is not an easy message, but it is
essential if our people and our planet are to survive.
The StrategyNuns and Others on the Bus
PART I. And what better way to live this message then by going to people, where
they live, work, and pray. Nuns on the Bus 2015 will travel to at least 10 cities in
seven states and visit some of the most struggling communities in America:
September
Louis, MO
September
MO/KS
September
September
September
AR
September
TN

10-11
11

Saint

Kansas City,

12 Topeka, KS
13 Fayetteville, AR
13-14
Little Rock,
14-15

Memphis,

September
TN
September
September
September
September
OH
September
September

16-17

Nashville,

17 Evansville, IN
18 Indianapolis, IN
19 Cincinnati, OH
20-21
Columbus,
21 Wheeling, WV
22-24
Washington, DC

At each stop we will bring our Sisters and our wrapped bus to encounter people at
social service agencies, businesses, faith communities and more. Our goal is to
encounter the concerns and priorities of the 100%. When we meet people, we hope
to learn about the issues that are most important to them, gather their stories, and
ultimately bring these stories to Pope Francis and to members of the Administration
and Congress.
The tour will culminate in Washington, D.C. where our Sisters will not only deliver
stories, but bring individuals who represent each state. These "nuns and others"
will tell their stories to the media, on Capitol Hill, and to the White House in order to
help to create an economy of inclusion.
PART II. While on the road to our seven states, we will also ask our activists and
collaborators around the country to share their stories of encounter with us on our
website collection tool. We will organize these stories by states and have them
available to use in future advocacy visits on key social programs.
PART III. Following the Popes departure, we will lobby on Capitol Hill and in states
and districts for appropriations that are consistent with Pope's message, i.e. how
Congress can Vote with the Pope. We want to challenge members of Congress to
seek the common good by prioritizing spending that cares for the 100% by funding
programs that help to Mend the Gaps and create safety net programs that benefit
those who have fallen on hard times.
The Pope and Policy
The Pope will address Congress and meet with the President and Vice President
among others. While we cant predict everything he will say there is no doubt that
Francis is going to call upon U.S. political leadership to put aside their partisan
bickering and create policies for the common good.
Pope Francis has already called for jobs that pay a living wage, for immigration
reform, and for prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable in our governmental
budgeting. This is our chance to lift up his message and to hold our leaders
accountable. While leaders on both the left and the right will be looking for photoops, NETWORK will be looking for follow-though. We will be asking our elected
officials: "Will you vote with the Pope?"
Historical Context
In April 2012, Catholic Bishops in Rome criticized women religious (nuns) in the
United States and their leadership. NETWORK was included in that criticism
because we spend too much time being concerned for the needs of people who live
at the margins of our society and being silent on other issues. NETWORKs Nuns
on the Bus hit the road in the summer of 2012 to bring attention to economic

injustice in the budget process, again in 2013 to lift up the importance of

comprehensive immigration reform, and last year to call on all Americans to be
voters and hold elected officials accountable. The theme throughout the tours has
been Catholic sisters concern for the common good.
Pope Francis has since amplified these same messages and called for the world to
create an economy that benefits the 100% an economy of inclusionnot just an
economy for those at the top.
In Summary
In the past three years, NETWORKs Nuns on the Bus have defied odds and
exceeded expectations because of our credibility and influence in local
communities. Together with our network of activists, we are determined to lift up
concern for the common good and hold elected officials accountable to their
communities.
As part of a comprehensive strategy, the 2015 Nuns on the Bus tour will be a living
demonstration of the culture of encounter. As an example to our leaders, it will
collect stories of Americans who have been excluded from the fruits of our
economic system, and will use this demonstration and these stories to put pressure
on Members of Congress to come together and Vote with the Pope.
To that end we are seeking to raise a bare bones budget to cover the
direct costs of $250,000 for our Pope and bus-related activities.