Street roots., August 02, 2013, Page 11, Image 11

Street roots
Aug. 2, 2013
NUNS, fro m page 10
thought it would make a nice conclusion to
the film.
“At first the jail said, ‘Yes,’” Fishman said,
th e detainees, however, were under the
control of U.S. Immigration and Customs
nforcement (ICE). Her request went to
federal authorities, and ICE said no.
That meant Fishman had to scramble to
come up with another solution. Solid
footage is key to any movie, and Fishman,
who had left a career as an architect and
urban planner to pursue filmmaking, knew
she had to work with what was available. To
create closure to Persch and Murphy’s
story, Fishman and her editor used voice­
overs and still photography.
The closing and opening moments of a
film usually display credits, and Fishman
credited a famous gathering of men as the
catalyst for nuns’ renewed passion in social
justice. That gathering was composed of
Catholic leaders and it was called Vatican II.
Out of the habit,
into the streets
Known officially as the Second Vatican
Council, Vatican II was an all-male conclave
that brought Catholic bishops to Saint
Peter’s Basilica once a year between 1962
and 1965. The objective was to consider the
role of the Catholic Church in a modern
world facing social, political and economic
changes.
One of the outcomes of the council was
that women’s congregations were
encouraged to reexamine the beliefs of their
founders, Fishman said. From these original
sources, nuns could find inspiration for
renewal.
Fishman said that many sisters took the
call to heart, and nuns chose to live like the
people they served. And dress like them.
“That’s what spurred them to stop
wearing their habits,” Fishman said.
Vatican II also caused nuns to renew their
commitments to serve poor and low-income
people. From that point forward, nuns
jumped feet-first into the social justice
movement. “Band of Sisters” shows footage
of nuns, some in habits and some without,
carrying picket signs in Civil Rights
protests, marching for health care or
fighting for the rights of detainees.
Every five years or so, nuns choose a new
issue of focus, Fishman said. Recently,
sisters have begun work to end human
trafficking, which is one more issue she
believes puts them in the vanguard of social
justice.
“If you want to find out where we’re
headed, just pay attention to the nuns,” she
said.
Beginning in 2009, the Vatican did just
that, specifically placing U.S. nuns under
investigation.
The sisters knew their actions were being
investigated, but were still surprised by the
assessment of their actions released last
April.
That’s when the Vatican denounced the
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
(LCWR), which represents 80 percent of the
country’s 57,000 Catholic nuns, for spending
too little time promoting Catholic teachings
such as the prohibition of women priests
and denouncing gay and lesbian
relationships. The Vatican also accused
LCWR of promoting “radical feminist
themes incompatible with the Catholic
faith.”
The accusations alarmed and upset many
nuns, Sister Lillian Murphy said, but it
didn’t diminish sisters’ commitment to
those they serve.
“They want to be able to control us, but
they can’t,” Murphy said. “We won’t let
them.”
Murphy said instead of meeting the
Vatican’s words with anger, LCWR has
entered into dialogue with church leaders
and expressed the nuns’ passion for social
justice. The Vatican’s statements and the
nuns’ response generated headlines last
year. Last month, 60 Minutes aired a
segment about the roil in the church
entitled “American nuns struggle with
Vatican for change.”
While this struggle is not the focus of
“Band of Sisters,” it could draw viewers to
the film. Fishman said when viewers,
particularly younger ones, sit down in the
theater, they can draw inspiration from
seeing older women fighting for the rights
of all people.
“When they see these 70-year-old women
going out there and making a difference,”
Fishman said, “it can be motivating.”
One motivating personality will be
Murphy, who, playing coy, won’t reveal her
actual age. “In my seventies,” she said, with
a chuckle. “But I don’t feel that old.”
Age is largely a nonissue for her and
other sisters, she said. The driving force for
many Catholic nuns is to stay committed to
social justice. Helping people acquire
affordable housing, health care and pastoral
rights in jail are just some of the ways
sisters express their passion to a higher
calling, Murphy said. “It’s truly the work of
God.”
For information about the film , visit
bandofsistersmovie.com. Reprinted from Real
Change News, Seattle, Wash.
Untitled #503
One More
By Ben Zarov
By Paula Ramirez
I am writing diamonds in my basement,
Vulgar amoral things.
I am abusing words with a sadist streak,
Skewing songs of myself with a Buddhist screech,
Meditating on the bigger pictures and shredding petty scriptures.
I am splitting hairs in a thousand pictures (that’s a million words).
I am lingering on the tasteless,
Mingling in the dankest basements,
& displaying heroic patience
in silly alliterations.
One more poem to show my support,
Finally a positive answer from
The Supreme Court.
Hold each other and dance in
Glee.
Expressing your love is finally
Free.
PH O TO CO URTESY
SISTERS O F M E R C Y
A R C H IV E S .
In 1961, a sextet o f
Sisters o f Mercy
prepare to begin
missionary work in
Peru.
->r
V'
J
I