Nuns take to the streets to protest Paul Ryan’s budget

Looks like Republican Rep. Paul Ryan’s got himself some trouble with a group of very passionate nuns…

American nuns are taking their opposition of the proposed Paul Ryan budget to the American people and embarking on a bus tour through some of America’s most politically important states.

NETWORK, a group founded by 47 Catholic sisters that speaks out on social justice issues in particular, will be hitting states like Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia in order to reveal “how federal budget cuts proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, (R-WI), and passed by the House of Representatives will hurt struggling families in these states,” a release by the group reads.

Rep. Ryan has said he applied his view of Catholic social teaching in his budget proposal, but having been raised as a Catholic and taught about the social justice component of Catholicism, I can’t help but wonder how Ryan’s understanding of the teachings of the Catholic church got so warped.

In fact, when I think about our nation’s social safety new programs, I’m reminded of a few passages from the Bible, like Luke 14: 13-14.

But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Or how about Matthew 25: 31-40?

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

If Paul Ryan really remembered his Catholic teachings, he’d remember that Jesus taught about social justice and helping those in need, not hurting them.

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28 thoughts on “Nuns take to the streets to protest Paul Ryan’s budget

  1. Strange how you libs will scream separation of church and state only when it benefits you. A good example as to why liberalism is dying in this country, no real commitment to anything.

    1. dante, I support the separation of church and state; I just don’t like it when a so-called religious conservative misinterprets/selectively interprets scripture.

    2. Curioser and curioser. Dante, the more you comment the more you reveal. There’s a jugular quality about you. There’s a doppelganger quality about you too. Incidentally, doppelganger means “Double-Walker” in German. Wild hilarity in that unintended irony. Once again, you say just the right thing but in a different voice. Wild hilarity in the unintended irony of “right voice” too!

      I’ve been wondering, how many Dantes are you? That’s a rhetorical question, no need to answer it.

  2. @dante: Where is your commitment? It never fails: he who complains, complains most about his own failings. He cannot see past his own circle in Hell.

    1. He is called “Dante The Dumb” for a reason, Vox Populi.

      His catch phrase is, “The STUPID, it burrrrrrrns”.

      IT certainly “bnurrrrrrrrns” white hot here.

      The powers that be on the Right chortle with delight every time they see someone like Dante open his big, fat, sloth-like mouth and parrot phrases like “separation of church and state” which they lack the sophistication and brain power to understand.

      @ Dante

      Your craven stupidity and irrational partisan beliefs open you up to a form of manipulation you couldn’t possibly comprehend.

      Your ‘thought for the day’, Dante: “Better to remain silent, and only be thought the fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.”

  3. I mean check this out Dante:
    Strange how you rethugs will scream about the State blocking the passion of Christianity only when it benefits you. A good example as to why compassionate conservatism is a farce in this country, no real commitment to glory of the lord.

  4. Does Deplorable Dante’s Doctrinal Derring-Do Demonstrate Dignity, Decency, and Decorum? Dare I declare it does not? Dare I do.

    1. Well, we could talk about Romans 13:8, which says “Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.”

      Tell me Smeety, what does the Bible prescribe as the punishment for adultery? I ask because if we take a literal interpretation of EVERYTHING the Bible says, then surely we should do so in all cases.

      1. Libs, be Georgetown University nuns or bloggers, should not reference the Bible. It makes them look foolish.

        With regard to adultery (John 8):

        1 Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives.

        2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

        3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

        4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

        5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

        6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

        7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

        8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

        9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

        10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

        11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

        Now….Romans 13:8

        “Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.”

        From that… how do you get to borrowing Trillions or taking the wealth of individuals?

        With that said, Matthew 19:24

        “24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

        Fortunate for me, I’m probably not going to have that problem ….

  5. While we are discussing the Bible…

    Please select the TRUE statement:

    A) Thou shall not steal.
    B) Thou shall not steal (except for the 1%).
    C) Thou shall not steal (unless you intend to feed the poor).

    * This post subject to Putin-style censorship *

    1. Censorship and moderation are two different things. You’re on moderation, and if I were interested in censoring you, I simply wouldn’t allow you to post at all.

      1. I understand completely. You need a safeguard against…. what? Counterpoints?

        Sorry. You wouldn’t be moderating if you didn’t feel a need to potentially censor. I haven’t sworn. I haven’t attacked anyone vehemently (although Phil’s claim that America can’t run out of money begs for it).

        When the talking heads say your side can dish it out, but can’t take it… they have pinned the tail on the donkey.

        * This post subject to Putin-style censorship *

        1. Everybody goes through moderation, Smeety, progressives and paranoid, Putin-fixated wingnuts alike. Funny how only moronic wingnuts like you complain about it.

          Just out of curiosity, Smeety El Wingnut Sweetie, exactly how many of the comments you have submitted haven’t been posted? I imagine the number is a big, fat ZERO, isn’t it?

          Zach doesn’t censor political speech. He censors only that which decorum mandates that he censor, just as ANY reasonable website administrator would do.

          You may be a myopic rightwing tool, Smeety, but Zach will publish your comments all day long as long as you keep it substantive. If you stick around long enough, you’ll realize that. You’ll also realize how “tool-worthy” your complaints about “Putin-like moderation” were. Well, maybe not. You are a tool after all, right? (*laughing*)

  6. The bottom line is that Dante doesn’t respect nuns enough to even read the post about them. That’s the bottom line, he doesn’t respect religion enough to listen to someone devoted to God. Yet he’ll likely claim to be religious.

    1. No need to thank me….it was certainly worth posting, because I think there’s a certain amount of chutzpah in someone like Paul Ryan (who by the way directly benefited from the social safety net as a child) seeking to dismantle that very same social safety net under the guise of his Catholic teachings.

  7. Even then, Zach, it would not be censorship. This blog is privately run and Smeety can create his own if he chooses. Governments censor, not individuals.

  8. It is interesting how 47 women of various ages bound by the vows, personal compassion and respect for all life, powerfull or weak, rich or poor, can draw the ire of so many concerned conservatives.
    I wonder how they can scare so many people, unless those same individuals when the look into their own hearts come up concerned.
    Love your fancy houses, fast cars and all those important credit cards. Laugh at the poor and homeless, for they are so far beneath you. But these is earth , not heaven and our stay here is short. I sure the key to heaven is a republican party membership, a mercedes and a fancy house. I think it wiser to follow the path of the nuns, care for and be concerned about all my fellow men.

  9. separation of church and state was established by Christ “give to Caeser what is Caeser’s and give to God what is God.” Republican’s always forget that little line. Just because I’m a far left liberal doesn’t mean I don’t believe in God – I attended Catholic School and am on the board of my church. Outside of the abortion issue – there would never be a Catholic that voted Republican (which is why they will never ban it – ie: Bush was president, owned the house and the senate, and the supreme court and they never once attempted to pass a bill – they knew it would hurt their go to abortion vote and go to abortion campaign donations). You are entitled to you oppinions – but not your own facts.

  10. So a voter card and the ability to C&P something googled is how one gains access to unlimited glory. Duly noted. Pfft, all this time I’ve wasted on meaningful actions wasted. No wonder my life is so empty.

    Any group of politicians that proclaim to hold a monopoly on spirituality is a party of fools. They will use your beliefs to yank about your emotions so they can fill their pockets with whatever resource they desire that you would not freely them.

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