Insights from the bus

I learned two things that surprised me while I was riding the Nuns on the Bus. The first was from two Catholic women from southwest Missouri. They said their parishes make them feel it is wrong to be Catholic and vote Democrat.

I know some priests and bishops take that line, but nobody in the congregations talks back. These two women are isolated. That’s why they came on the bus, to be part of a community that sees the disaster facing the poor in the Ryan budget.

The other surprise was when we visited Congressman Todd Akin’s office. The district manager met with us, and he brought in a woman who is charged with addressing the Catholic constituency. She said the Congressman meets frequently with the archbishop to coordinate activities.

Now that’s interesting. On my “to do” list this week is writing a letter to the archbishop asking for a meeting with the sisters about the Ryan budget.