Sister Simone's 'Nuns on the Bus' Hits Philadelphia | Women Win Under ACA | Obama's Women Vote 2012 Summits
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Anne is reading …
Nuns on the Bus
Just in! Anne has returned from a most emotional and moving morning with Nuns of the Bus and Sister Simone Campbell, featured in this video. AOC readers know that Sister Simone was specifically mentioned in the Vatican’s condemnation of American nuns. Follow this new AFP read ‘Nuns on the Bus’ Taking America by storm, while Anne prepares her own story.
Anti-Choicers Can’t Stop Lying About the ACA Decision Slate
For one who designates herself “pro-life” (who isn’t?), yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act should be a cause for celebration. After all, actual people with actual lives will see those lives saved, extended, and the quality of them improved. It’s estimated that 45,000 people die a year from lack of insurance, people with families and conscious points of view, who can feel pain and fear. These lives should matter if one wears the moniker “pro-life” to mean that you support life.
Obama’s ‘Women Vote 2012 Summits’
The first summit is July 1 in Denver, Colorado, one of several swing states where women will be decisive in determining the winner of the presidential election. Confirmed now are Pennsylvania, Florida, and Nevada. Anne will be attending in Philadelphia.
Issues include paycheck fairness, health care including birth control, abortion rights, and education.
Women Win Under ACA
Demonstrators in favor of the Affordable Care Act marched in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. (Saul Loeb, AFP / Getty Images)A practice that Anne knows well — “gender rating.” in which insurers can charge women higher premiums than men — without maternity coverage included — will officially end in 2014, thanks to the Supreme Court’s upholding of Obamacare. American women will receive many new benefits as the law takes effect, in this Daily Beast overview:
No Gender Discrimination
Today, women pay $1 billion more than men for identical health plans in the individual market. With no pre-existing conditions of any kind, Anne paid $1000 a month with a $2000 deductible for health insurance on the East Coast, as a self-employed person.
Finding a much better plan under Aetna after her move, Anne’s policy dropped to $327 a month, but with a $5000 deductible. The plan is generous in preventive care and includes dental insurance. Her Aetna policy was reduced after Obamacare became law. Her female design assistant also reports that her policy cost went down.
Other benefits include:
No gender-based “preexisting conditions” like not getting health insurance if a woman has had breast cancer, a Caesarean section, or as a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault. Previously, these conditions often made women uninsurable.
- No co-pay on fundamental health care services like mammograms, Pap smears and well baby services.
- Ability to see OB-GYN without a referral
- Insurers can’t deny coverage to the 17 million children with preexisting conditions.
Anne of Carversville
Nicole Kidman | Will Davidson | Harper’s Bazaar Australia June/July 2012 | The Making Of Us
AOC Private Studio
Jessica Stam | Koray Birand | Vogue Hellas June 2012 | ‘Venus Rising’
Liu Wen | Gan | Harper’s Bazaar Singapore June 2012 | Heavenly Creatures
Kristen Stewart | Mario Testino | Vanity Fair July 2012 | Hollywood’s Rebel Belle
Carolyn Murphy | Koray Birand | Harper’s Bazaar Spain July/August 2012
Barbara Palvin | Greg Kadel | Victoria’s Secret ‘Designer Collection’
Liberty Ross | Christopher Schmidt | Plaza Kivinna July 2012
AOC Living
Emily Smith | Paul Bellaart | Glamour Spain July 2012 | Lady Cadillac
Yana Karpova | Ohnur | Glamour Spain July 2012 | El Blanco que Favorece
Nastya Kusakina | Kevin Sinclair | How to Spend It June 2012 | A Hit Below the Belt
Caterina Ravaglia | Mari Sarai | Please! Summer 2012 | Louis The Great
Share Article Sat, June 30, 2012 in America, Daily, Editorials, Feminism, Sexual Politics tagged 2012 election, Affordable Care Act, American nuns, Catholic Church, Catholic nuns, Nuns on the Bus, Obamacare, Ryan budget, Sister Simone Campbell, women's health 
American Nuns Respond With Barbara Marx Hubbard Style Vision | Nuns Ask Romney To Spend A Day With Poor
Barbara Marx Hubbard was the featured speaker at this week’s Missouri meeting of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. The main focus of the meeting was drafting a response to the Vatican’s claims that American nuns are “radical feminists” out of step with the church’s teaching. Of course, the members of LCWR don’t see themselves in this light.
The response to Rome’s doctrinal assessment is more eastern, writes Thomas C Fox for The National Catholic Reporter.
Reporting on the statement from our American nuns continues below.
First, a short fashion film ‘Sisterhood’ by Json Adriani, with styling by Federica Salto and featuring Masha @ 2morrow model and Malgosia @ Urban Management.
This little gem expresses this moment in history at which humanity stands. Simply stated, the world finds itself in a battle over the truth and validity of more feminine principles versus holding on to primarily patriarchal ones. Perhaps subconsciously, Json Adriani’s new short identifies the reflection and contemplation required about the future vision of America, and the type of planet we seek.
‘Sisterhood’
Mitt Romney’s announcement today that Wisconsin Rep Paul Ryan is his running mate crystallizes dramatically the coming dialogue around American values. In response to the Vatican’s condemnation, American nuns have placed themselves as leaders in the discussion about the future of our country.
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Anne is reading …
American nuns have responded to the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith with a request for more dialogue and a vision of Christianity in the future. Sister Pat Farrell’s address also captures a 21st century vision of women as leaders in creating a sustainable planet.
Continuing his explanation of the nuns’ mindset, National Catholic Reporter publisher Thomas C. Fox writes:
LCWR’s president Sister Farrell’s closing address focused on the message and vision of the Second Vatican Council, a vision that is repudiated in many ways by Pope Benedict, who argues that the 2nd Vatican Council has been misinterpreted with any suggestion that it opened the door to an acceptance of homosexuality, sacraments for the divorced and re-married, women priests, or birth control.
The Vatican is using the 50th anniversary of the 2nd Vatican Council to reeducate Catholics about the real messages in a Year of Faith. Bottom line, the Catholic Church is facing major dialogue among its members in the coming year, and the nuns seek an active voice.
The LCWR board meets for two hours today with Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, the head of a three-bishop team chosen by Rome to overhaul the LCWR over the next five years.
“There is an inherent existential tension between the complementary roles of hierarchy and religious (the nuns) which is not likely to change,” Farrell told the sisters. “In an ideal ecclesial world, the different roles are held in creative tension, with mutual respect and appreciation, in an environment of open dialogue, for the building up of the whole church.”
Stating the obvious, she said the Vatican’s mandate over the LCWR “suggests that we are not currently living in an ideal ecclesial world.”
The sisters say they will keep on talking with the Vatican “for as long as possible” but will reconsider if the sisters are “forced to compromise the integrity of (their) mission.
Sister Sandra M. Schneiders, professor emeritus of New Testament studies at the Jesuit School of Theology/Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Ca, told Laurie Goodstein of the New York Times: “There is definitely a desire to de-escalate the conflict, because fight is not what we’re about.” But there are also non-negotiables, she continued, including the sisters’ belief that God speaks through many people, not just through the bishops.
Paul Ryan Budget
Huff Po’s Senior Religon Editor Paul Brandeis Raushenbush has already responded to Mitt Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan as his vice-presidential pick with the same thought that went through my mind on hearing the news.
Sister Simone Campbell argues that Ryan’s budget “rejects church teaching about solidarity, inequality, the choice for the poor, and the common good. That’s wrong.”
In a tearful moment between Sister Simone and myself, she fiercely pronounced: “We must get our country back.”
Catholic leaders who are more focused on social policy and the poor than the Vatican’s priority of contraception, homosexuality, no women priests and abortion have been aggressive in criticizing Paul Ryan. When scheduled to speak at Georgetown University, more than 90 faculty members including over a dozen Jesuit priests signed a letter about the Paul Ryan budget:
Nuns Challenge Romney
Earlier this week, Sister Simone’s social justice lobby NETWORK openly invited Republican candidate Mitt Romney to spend a day with them, learning about the needs of struggling families and low-income communities. The official press release from NETWORK said:
Anne of Carversville
Next up was the tent 10,000,000 Fireflies. They, too, are deeply rooted in my imagination and private identity. A video from the cancelled FOX show ‘Fireflies’ deeply captured my imagination and always inspires me in the fight for social justice.
The second essay shares a dream I had years ago — a dream about risk, fear of failure and ascending into the light. Thinking of all the people who have stood up for the Catholic nuns — and it’s a huge number — I just have to share the always inspiring video ‘Firefly and Serenity: Defying Gravity’.
Whenever my spirit needs a boost, I go for it. Today I share the video in honor of America’s nuns.
The Merits of Going Through Life Thinking You’re a Firefly
Slowly, consciousness returned to my sleeping brain functions. “This is impossible,” I whispered in my dream, as I floated now in a state of total awe. “I’m defying the law of gravity. I should be dead, a crumpled, bloody mess of a corpse in the cactus garden.”
My shocked, dreamstate mind regained control. Awareness and a plan of action returned to my sleeping mind. I was still in charge on my skyward journey, if I faced my fears. Looking at myself from the corner of my dream, I saw tears streaming down my face.
“Look up, Anne,” a voice told me.
Carversville, Cuttalossa Road, Cuttalossa Farm and a Peaceable Kingdom
Out of nowhere, the formation appeared … a simple, bucolic scene unfolded before my eyes that I will never forget. I don’t remember who led the parade … probably one of the dogs, but they came two by two.
Unlike Noah’s Ark, they were not matched pairs. The dog ambled along with the rooster; one of my precious Babydolls was frolicking with a duck…
The scene polarized me for several minutes, burning a vision of hope in my mind. It sounds so trite and overly simplistic to say this, but I remember thinking to myself: “If they can get along and have such a good time together … well, why can’t we humans do the same thing?”
These animals couldn’t be more different, but they had surmounted their differences to create unimaginable delight.
J’Adore: Field Candy classic design limited edition tents. Made in England.
Field Candy Limited Edition Tents: 10,000,000 Fireflies
Firefly and Serenity: Defying Gravity