I applaud these nuns for breaking from the pack…and think it worthy to list them all in acknowledgement of their solidarity to speak out against the paternal order of Catholic rulers and the sanctimonious obstructionists in the neoconservative push against any kind of health care reform.

It is also important to point out that their endorsement will not be embraced by the Christian Dominionists because after all…Catholics are not “real” Christians anyway…and that includes all Christians who are not: born again, accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, baptized and have the mandatory “personal relationship with Jesus Christ”.

In fact, the Christian Dominionist Apostles take great pride and credit for the death of Mother Teresa through Spiritual Prayer Warfare. Click these links for more on that twisted use of Christian prayer in the name of God. Here is an excerpt from a great article from alternet.org…

[...]“A striking feature of the ministries of the New Apostolic Reformation is their use of militant terminology. Diane Buker, the state leader for Florida is head of a ministry titled Battle Axe Brigade. The website features an animated arm swinging a mace as well as articles claiming that Roman Catholicism and Mormonism are corrupt religious systems and that Roman Catholicism is bound by a religious spirit.

Cindy Jacobs, another Prophetic Elder, has a ministry titled Generals of Intercession and Jacobs has authored books such as Possessing the Gates of the Enemy, a Training Manual for Militant Intercession. Ana Mendez (Ferrell), a Prophetess in the Wagner Apostolic network system, believes she may have helped kill Mother Theresa.” ~ Alternet.org

And pay close attention to the fact that Sarah Plain’s own Spiritual Advisor, Mary Glazier,among others  joined in those prayers calling for the death of Mother Teresa. Mary Glazier is the equivalent of Vice President of Sales for the C. Peter Wagner “Spiritual Prayer Network” as the Senior Apostle of the Northwest Gate…hey…I am not kidding! (My friend, Sarah Jones, wrote a great article over at politicususa.com elaborating further on the bravery of these women…)

Dear Members of Congress:

We write to urge you to cast a life-affirming “yes” vote when the Senate health care bill (H.R. 3590) comes to the floor of the House for a vote as early as this week. We join the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), which represents 1,200 Catholic sponsors, systems, facilities and related organizations, in saying: the time is now for health reform AND the Senate bill is a good way forward.

As the heads of major Catholic women’s religious order in the United States, we represent 59,000 Catholic Sisters in the United States who respond to needs of people in many ways. Among our other ministries we are responsible for running many of our nation’s hospital systems as well as free clinics throughout the country.

We have witnessed firsthand the impact of our national health care crisis, particularly its impact on women, children and people who are poor. We see the toll on families who have delayed seeking care due to a lack of health insurance coverage or lack of funds with which to pay high deductibles and co-pays. We have counseled and prayed with men, women and children who have been denied health care coverage by insurance companies. We have witnessed early and avoidable deaths because of delayed medical treatment.

The health care bill that has been passed by the Senate and that will be voted on by the House will expand coverage to over 30 million uninsured Americans. While it is an imperfect measure, it is a crucial next step in realizing health care for all. It will invest in preventative care. It will bar insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. It will make crucial investments in community health centers that largely serve poor women and children. And despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions. It will uphold longstanding conscience protections and it will make historic new investments – $250 million – in support of pregnant women. This is the REAL pro-life stance, and we as Catholics are all for it.

Congress must act. We are asking every member of our community to contact their congressional representatives this week. In this Lenten time, we have launched nationwide prayer vigils for health care reform. We are praying for those who currently lack health care. We are praying for the nearly 45,000 who will lose their lives this year if Congress fails to act. We are also praying for you and your fellow Members of Congress as you complete your work in the coming days. For us, this health care reform is a faith mandate for life and dignity of all of our people.

We urge you to vote “yes” for life by voting yes for health care reform in H.R. 3590.

Sincerely,

Marlene Weisenbeck, FSPA, LCWR President, Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Joan Chittister, OSB, Co-Chair Global Peace Initiative of Women, Erie, PA

Leadership Team, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Leadership Team, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Sr. Mary Persico, IHM, President, Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, PA

Sr. Susan Hadzima, IHM, Councilor for Missioning and Community Life, Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, PA

Mary Pelligrino, Marguerite Coyne, Rosanne Oberleitner, Carolyn Bodenshatz, Leadership team, Sisters of St. Joseph, Baden, PA

Sr. Helen McDonald, SHCJ, Province Leader, Society of the Holy Child Jesus, Philadelphia, PA

Vivien Linkhauer, SC., Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, United States Province, Greensburg, PA

Leadership Team, Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

Sister Barbara Hagedorn, SC, Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Mt. St. Joseph, Ohio

Marilyn Kerber, SNDdeN, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Canonical Representative, Ohio Province

Sisters of St. Francis, Tiffin, Ohio

Leadership Team, Sisters of the Precious Blood, Dayton, OH

Nancy Conway CSJ, Congregation Leadership Team, The Congregation of St. Joseph,

Joan Saalfeld, SNJM, Provincial, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, U.S.-Ontario Province

Jo’Ann De Quattro, SNJM, Sisters of the Holy Names, U.S.-Ontario Province Leadership Team

Josephine Gaugier,  OP, Adrian Dominican Sisters, Holy Rosary Mission Chapter Prioress, Adrian, MI

Kathleen Nolan, OP, Adrian Dominican Sisters, Office of the General Council

Joan Mumaw, IHM – Vice President, On behalf of the Leadership Council, Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, MI

Corinne Weiss, Servants of Jesus Leadership Team, Saginaw   MI

Beatrice Haines, OLVM, President, Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, Huntington, IN

Eileen C. Reid, RJM, Provincial Superior, Religious of Jesus and Mary, Washington DC

Sister Cecilia Dwyer, O.S.B., Prioress, Benedictine Sisters of Virginia

Sr. Dorothy Maxwell, Councilor, Sisters of St. Dominic, Blauvelt, New York

Adrian Dover OP, Prioress, Dominican Sisters of Houston, Texas

Francine Schwarzenberger OP, Dominican Sisters of Peace, Denver, Colorado

Rose Mary Dowling, FSM, President, Franciscan Sisters of Mary

Margaret Byrne CSJP – Congregation Leader, Teresa Donohue CSJP – Assistant Congregation Leader, Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace

Sr. Carmelita Latiolais, S.E.C., Sisters of the Eucharistic Covenant

Sheral Marshall, OSF, Provincial Councilor, Sisters of St Francis

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, Sister Joann Sambs, CSA, General Superior

The Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis

Sister Jane Blabolil, SSJ-TOSF

Sister Michelle Wronkowski, SSJ-TOSF

Sister Dorothy Pagosa, SSJ-TOSF

Sister Linda Szocik, SSJ-TOSF

Sr. Mary Genino (RSHM), Provincial, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Western American Province.

Debra M. Sciano, SSND, Provincial Leader, Milwaukee Province, School Sisters of Notre Dame

Sister Liz Heese, School Sisters of St. Francis, US Province, Milwaukee, WI

Marlene Weisenbeck, FSPA, President, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, La Crosse, WI

Sharon Simon, OP, President, Racine Dominicans

Maryann A. McMahon, O.P., Vice President, Dominican Sisters of Racine, WI

Agnes Johnson, OP, Vice President, Racine Dominicans

Pat Mulcahey, OP, Prioress of Sinsinawa Dominicans

Theresa Sandok, OSM, Servants of Mary (Servite Sisters), Ladysmith, Wisconsin

Sister Maureen McCarthy, School Sisters of St. Francis, U.S. Provincial Team, Milwaukee, WI

Dolores Maguire, Sisters of the Holy Faith, Northern California LCWR Region XIV

Patricia Anne Cloherty, PBVM, Leadership Team, Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco

Pam Chiesa, PBVM, President, Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco

Gloria Inés Loya, Leadership Team, Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco

Gloria Marie Jones, OP, Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, Congregational Prioress and Council

Mary Litell, Provincial Councilor, Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity St. Francis Province

Sr Claire Graham SSS, General Director, Sisters of Social Service, Encino CA

Sr. Gladys Guenther SHF, Sisters of the Holy Family, Congregational President, Fremont, CA

Sister Patricia Rayburn, OSF, Provincial Minister, Sisters of St. Francis,, Redwood City, CA

Sisters of St. Louis, California Region, Marianites of Holy Cross

Sr. Suellen Tennyson, MSC, Congregational Leader, New Orleans, LA

Sister Clare of Assisi Pierre, SSF, Sisters of the Holy Family, New Orleans, LA

Congregation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Sister Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, O.Carm.

Sister Andree Bindewald, O.Carm., Lacombe, Louisiana

Sr. Mary Elizabeth Schweiger, OSB, Subprioress, Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, KS

Janice Cebula, OSF, President, Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa

Mary Rehmann, CHM, President, Congregation of the Humility of Mary, Davenport, IA

Sr. Joanne Buckman, OSU, Usruline Sisters of Cleveland

Jean Masterson, CSJ, Congregation of St. Joseph, Cincinnati, OH