Nuns are not exempt from criticism simply by virtue of their vocation. On the contrary, due to their vocation they should set the example for the lay community, and when that example is a departure from their faith, then their scrutiny is well-merited.
The "Nuns on the Bus" are a group of radical, feminist nuns influenced by liberation theology and dedicated to spreading a false theology under a blanket of legitimacy provided by the Church. The "Nuns" leader - Sister Simone Campbell - a featured speaker at the 2012 Democrat National Convention fashions herself as "pro-life," but when asked her position on legislative efforts to protect the unborn says such a decision is "above her pay grade." It is clear from other interviews, that the Sister's characterization of the pro-life position is one that calls for an ever-expanding federal bureaucracy dedicated to providing cradle (if one makes it there) to grave services by the state. The Vatican has already severely reprimanded these nuns for selling a false theology (April, 2012 - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith).
With that background, it is no wonder that Washington County Catholics took action to get the word out about the "Nuns'" visit to Marietta. Catholic and non-Catholic Christians who share a commitment to Truth and revulsion for the HHS mandate that lies at the center of Obamacare turned out to stand against the "Nuns'" false theology. Had this event been in harmony with the Catholic faith, the local church and priests would have been invited. Indeed, their unannounced visit is a tacit recognition on their part, that the Church would not have welcomed their visit.
Supported by 40-50 people, the "Nuns" made some initial comments upon disembarking from their bus. Then they processed through our peaceful crowd of protestors (people prayed the Rosary, sang the Ave Maria and God Bless America, etc.) to the office of Congressman Bill Johnson. The five nuns present met with representatives of the Congressman for about 15 minutes, processed back through the crowd, and finished with about 20 minutes of speechmaking prior to departing Marietta.
The event has now been picked up by the liberal press (Huffington Post) who are trying to present it as a "Catholic Nuns vs. Tea Party" confrontation. Absolutely, there were members of the local Marietta 9-12 Project as well as leaders of the Republican Party present at the protest, but this was not a Tea Party-driven event. This was a wonderful ecumenical group (about 60 percent Catholic, 40 percent non-Catholic) of people who turned up to protest a group of political ideologues intent to hide behind religion as a way of insulating their message from criticism. I am very proud of the community of Christians who gathered with us in solidarity against these women, and very pleased that these women and their supporters did not go unchallenged in Marietta.
Khadine Ritter
Marietta
