A Breach, a Bridge, and a Bus 

When nuns speak, people tend to listen.

Despite all the ways the moral authority of the church has been tarnished by scandal, hypocrisy, and the resurgence of Christian nationalism, nuns so often speak with a moral clarity and integrity that causes people to sit up and listen more attentively. 

I have seen this effect in real time during my first few days on the NETWORK Advocates’ Nuns on the Bus & Friends tour across the country, which is calling on Catholics and all people of goodwill to be multi-issue voters and to protect the freedoms that promote a future of flourishing for all. I’m grateful for all of the ways that Network Advocates and Sojourners work in partnership, from defending our democracy through Faiths United to Save Democracy to shared work on economic justice and more.    

I was honored to be asked to serve as one of the “friends” for the Midwest portion of this national bus tour. When the tour rolled into the city of Detroit on October 6, I had the privilege to serve as the master of ceremonies for a rally that took place at the International Brotherhood Electrical Workers Local 58. 

Over a hundred faith and community leaders, union members, and activists welcomed the bus into Detroit to hear how voting can help build a Detroit–and a country–in which “everyone thrives, no exceptions!” 

The diverse group speakers inspired us with words of hope, challenge, and calls to action. Rev. Barry Randolph, pastor of the Church of the Messiah, shared the incredible work that his church is doing to change lives and transform their community. Sister Sally Duffy, SC spoke passionately about the moral imperative to be a welcoming country that affirms the dignity of everyone, including immigrants. 

She exclaimed “Hate has never made us great. It’s our compassion and love that make our nation great.” 

Rev. Frank Jackson inspired us with a compelling analogy comparing elections to a family portrait in which our picture is incomplete when everyone is not included. 

Elyssa Schmier of MomsRising spoke passionately about the need for sensible gun control, and Father Charles Blachard expressed “that God’s love knows no bounds” and that our love must include all of our LGBTQ+ siblings. 

Sister Catherine Darcy, RSM spoke of the danger that white Christian nationalism poses to our democracy and to the witness of the church.   

In my opening remarks, I had the privilege to share briefly about the importance of a breach, a bridge, and a bus. In the 58th chapter of Isaiah the prophet says “is not this the fast that I choose, to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the bonds of yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every form of oppression….Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless into your house.” 

In other words, a commitment to compassion and justice are integral to our faith and should be the outgrowth of our worship. Isaiah goes on to say that, when we combat injustice and engage in acts of compassion, “then our light will shine like a noonday, we will be like a well-watered garden, we will be known as repairers of the breach, restorers of streets with dwellings.” 

In other words, our liberation and flourishing are directly tied to the liberation and flourishing of others.   

Sadly, in Detroit and across our nation, there are many breaches in need of repair: poverty, gun violence, climate change, and immigrant rights, and much more. The good news is that we have the power to repair these and other breaches. But it will require civic engagement. 

Through our vote, we can build a bridge between our current reality and a preferred actuality that we know is possible: one where everyone can thrive, no exceptions.  

Finally, there’s a bus. A bus helps us reach a destination. This bus tour is rolling across America to ensure that we can push our nation toward reaching the destination of just, inclusive, multi-racial democracy. 

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