Special appeal from Sister Joan Chittister

Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB at Call To Action’s National Conference with board member Kate Childs Graham and National Catholic Reporter editor Jamie Manson (Photo used with permission from NCR)

The baptismal call of every Catholic is one of empowerment and mission. We are called to speak up for what we know in our hearts to be right. In this moment of new energy and spirit in the church, we are surely being called to take our part in building a more just and inclusive community together. That participation will differ for each of us. For some, it may involve writing to church leaders, telling them why you advocate for women’s equality. Perhaps it is telling your fellow parishioners why you support your gay brother or bravely standing in vigil for an unjustly fired church worker.

I shared some of these moments recently as nuns in the United States were denounced and judged by the Vatican and the U.S. Bishops. I chose to publicly stand with my sisters and call others to do the same through my published articles and speeches. I judged the right thing to do was to speak for justice and to stand in solidarity and am so moved that so many of you are standing there with us too! Or perhaps you have spoken for justice in other ways.

What was your moment? When did you act based on what you judged to be right? When you followed the path of other Catholics like Saint Hildegard of Bingen and Bishop Oscar Romero, and so many others who knew that being a faithful Catholic meant stepping out of the familiar comfort zone? Call To Action challenges Catholics to seize the moment, act for justice, and build inclusive communities.

Please join me in supporting Call To Action so that this vital part of our Catholic tradition continues and becomes even more central to our spiritual life!

The Church will be restored and transformed by people who love the church and know it can be better. Call To Action seeks to make our church look more like the Gospels by advocating for women’s equality, advancing racial justice, seeking full inclusion of LGBT Catholics, elevating the need for church worker justice, standing with our Sisters and all who are unjustly accused, and engaging the laity to take responsibility for the church.

Through Call To Action, you and I can be part of this sacred work!

I am inspired by the people who make up the Call To Action community! Out of love for God and the whole Catholic family, Call To Action members enter into risk-taking moments to create a better church for all Catholics. When parish-closing processes unfairly and negatively impact communities of color, Call To Action is there to expose racial injustice. When a church worker is unjustly fired for being gay or advocating for women’s equality, we remain in solidarity with them as we vigil outside the diocesan office. When the laity, the people of God, are excluded from the fullness of church life, we engage the Catholic faithful to stand firm for justice.

Please support Call To Action during this critical time in our church’s evolution!

I want a church that is inclusive, loving and just. I know you do too.

I support Call To Action because throughout the country there are local and regional chapters providing community and spiritual grounding for the challenges that we face as a Catholic community.  The energetic, spirit filled national conference and regional events educate Catholics on critical issues concerning the church.  Call To Action remains bold in its national JustChurch action campaigns, making my voice even stronger when speaking up for church justice.  If there is one thing I have learned in my many decades of justice work, it is that you can’t do it alone.  In being part of Call To Action, I realize that I’m not alone.  I am united with you and thousands of others around the country ready to transform our church to be the best it can be.  Please join us!

Blessings,

Joan Chittister, OSB

P.S. Pope Francis has given us a new moment to build a more just and inclusive church!  Please financially support these critically important efforts and seize your moment to transform our church.  Please send your generous donation today.