Simone Campbell, SSS, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

That civilian honour is awarded to individuals "who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace or other significant societal, public or private endeavours."

Campbell was the head of the Catholic social justice lobbying organisation Network until her retirement last year, having spent the past two decades lobbying for social justice in Washington DC.

She advocated for racial and economic justice, immigration reform and other causes.

She's also often credited for her role in gathering signatures from Catholic nuns in support of the Affordable Care Act — the signature legislative achievement of former President Barack Obama - to help secure its passage.

Campbell spoke at two Democratic National Conventions in 2012 and 2020.

She organised the "Nuns on the Bus," a tour that took her and other sisters to hundreds of events throughout the United States to call attention to the need for an expanded social safety net.

In addition, she was an ardent supporter of the Affordable Care Act when it was enacted in 2010. More recently, she was active in the 2020 election, urging Catholics not to vote for President Trump.

Although Biden is praising her contribution, The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is less happy.

It has appointed the Archbishop of Seattle, Peter Sartain, to oversee the The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) to ensure it follows "the teachings and discipline of the Church".

Campbell has other views.

"When so many are struggling economically and still do not have access to meet their basic needs, the work of groups like @NETWORK and UnderstandingUS is being acknowledged for living out faith seeking justice," she said.

"I trust that our work for economic justice and political healing might receive a renewed focus in these challenging times!"

The group will continue "caring for the least among us on the margins of society," she says.

Source

• Press Telegram
• America Magazine

Father James Martin SJ and Sister Simone Campbell (pictured), a Sister of Social Service and New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan were shoulder-tapped to pray at these key political events.

Yesterday, Martin and Campbell's prayers were offered during the Democrats' National Convention's final night.

Martin has a widespread presence in various media platforms and Campbell is the executive director of Network, a Catholic social justice lobbying group.

Both pre-recorded their prayers with Campbell offering an invocation and Martin delivering a benediction.

Campbell and Martin say they are honoured to have been invited to pray at the event.

"Generally speaking, I don't like to do too many overtly political things, but it's hard to turn down an invitation to pray. I figured if the Republicans asked me, I'd do the same thing," Martin says.

He noted Dolan prayed at both major political conventions in 2012.

Dolan, who was then the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, prayed for the unborn in his closing benediction at the Democratic Convention.

He asked "that they may be welcomed and protected."

He made a similar plea in his closing for Republican Convention.

The Republican's platform on abortion is generally viewed as closer to the Catholic Church's teaching than the Democrats' platform, which supports legal abortion.

On Monday next week, Dolan will offer a prayer during the opening evening of the Republican National Convention.

"As a priest, one of my most sacred obligations is to try and respond positively whenever I am invited to pray," Dolan says.

"Prayer is speaking to God, offering Him praise, thanking Him for His many blessings, and asking for His intercession; it is not political or partisan."

"That is why I have accepted an invitation to pray at the Republican's National Convention."

Both the Democrats and Republicans are entitled to his prayers, Dolan says.

"My agreeing to pray does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate, party, or platform. Had I been invited to offer a prayer for the Democratic National Convention, I would have happily accepted, just as I did in 2012."

"It is my hope that, during this tumultuous time in our nation's history, people of all religious faiths or none at all might join together in seeking peace and reconciliation in our hearts, in our cities, and in our country."

Source

• The Tablet
• NCR Online
• Image: BillMoyers.com