Press Release: Over 50 Catholic Sisters Ask Sen. Kirk to Support Syrian Refugees

Joe Ward | jward@networklobby.org | 202.601.7871

54 Catholic Sisters in Illinois delivered a statement to Sen. Mark Kirk’s Washington D.C. office asking for compassion towards Syrian refugee populations

WASHINGTON– On Tuesday, Sept. 8, NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, which educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation, delivered a letter to Sen. Mark Kirk’s office, on behalf of 54 Catholic Sisters in Illinois. The letter asks for compassion towards Syrian refugees and to ensure that the U.S. continues to support these vulnerable people.
“As we speak, there are increasingly heartbreaking and tragic reports of over 4 million Syrian refugees seeking safety in the region and in Europe,” they said in the statement.
“Over 75% of these refugees are women and children and more than half are under the age of 18. At the hands of ISIS, Syrian women have suffered from widespread, gender-based violence, including kidnapping, systematic rape, enslavement, trafficking, stoning, beheading, and sexual harassment and assault. These are unspeakable acts of terror and we weep for those who suffer. But our tears are not enough. We urge the United States to respond to this crisis and embrace our long tradition of historic leadership and compassion.”
“Fear cannot and must not be an excuse for inaction, or worse, a rejection, of our faithful duty to respond to the urgent needs of our Syrian brothers and sisters. We must live up to the words of Jesus in the Gospel: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in” (Matthew 25:35).”
“We respectfully ask for your support to ensure that the U.S. continues to be a world leader in efforts to act on behalf of refugees and to provide a beacon of hope to persons of all faiths who yearn to breathe free.”

The Catholic Sister signatories include: Arlene Ashack, IBVM, Loretto Center in Wheaton;
Carole Marie Blazina, SC, Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in Chicago; Emily Brabham, Novice,
Sisters of St. Francis of Clinton in Chicago; Sandra Brunenn, OSB, Sisters of St. Benedict in Rock Island; Genarose Buechler, ASC, Adorers of the Blood of Christ in Ruma; Norine Burns, OP, Dominican Sister of Adrian Michigan in Chicago; Elizabeth Carpentier, OSU, Ursulines of the Roman Union in Alton; Mary Carr, OP, Andrian Dominican in Romeoville; Letitia M. Close, BVM, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chicago; Benita Coffey, OSB, Benedictine Sisters of Chicago in Chicago; Philip Neri Crawford, OP, Springfield Dominicans in Springfield; Carol Crepeau, CSJ, Congregation of St. Joseph in La Grange Park; Judith David, SSJ-TOSF, Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis in Chicago; Jill Dearmer, RC, Cenacle Convent in Chicago; Kathleen Desautels, SP, Sisters of Providence in Chicago; Dorothy Dwight, BVM, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chicago; Gwen Farry, BVM, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chicago; Catherine Fedewa, CSFN, Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in Des Plaines; Michele Fisher, CSFN, Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in Des Plaines; Carol Fox, OP, Sinsinawa Dominican in Niles; Margaret B Geraghty, BVM; Norma Janssen, OSF, Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Joliet; Bernadine Karge, OP, Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters in Chicago; Marcelline Koch, OP, Dominican Sisters of Springfield Sacred Heart Convent in Springfield; Marilyn Kofler, SP, Sisters of Providence in Chicago; Rosemary LaFlaur, CSJ, Congregation of St. Joseph in Brookfield; Cindy Langlois, IBVM, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chicago; Catherine Leamy, SNJM, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary in Countryside; Therese MacKenzie, SHCJ, St. Gertrude in Chicago; Mary Joellen McCarthy, BVM, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chicago; Nancy McCarthy, BVM, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Oak Park; Pat McCarthy, OSF, School Sisters of St. Francis in Rockford; Mary Ellen Meckley, BVM, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chicago; Rose Mary Meyer, BVM, Sisters of Charity of theBlessed Virgin Mary in Chicago; Kathlyn Mulcahy, OP, Dominican Sisters of Springfield in Springfield; Beth Murphy, OP, Dominican Sisters of Springfield Sacred Heart Convent in Springfield; Rose Therese Nolta, SSpS, Holy Spirit Missionary in Northfield; Diane O’Donnell, BVM, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chicago; Dee Peppard, BVM. Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Jean Phelan, SSND, School Sisters of Notre Dame in Brookfield; Kathleen Phelan, OP, Sinsinawa Dominicans in Berwyn; Donna M. Preston, SSF, School Sisters of St. Francis in Chicago; Patricia Principe, Associate, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Darien; Diane Przyborowski, OSF, Wheaton Franciscans in Wheaton; Barbara Reid, OP, Dominican Sisters in Grand Rapids in Chicago; Janet M. Ryan, OSF, Sisters of St. Francis in Chicago; Joellen Sbrissa, CSJ, Congregation of St. Joseph in La Grange Park; JoAn Schullian, OSF, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Decatur; Barbara Sheehan, SP, Sisters of Providence in Chicago; Opal Easter Smith, Associate, Oblate Sisters of Providence in Chicago; Charlotte Sonneville, OSB, Sisters of St. Benedict in Rock Island; Carol Spiegel, BVM, Sisters of Charity in Oak Park; Kristine Vorenkamp, SLW, Sisters of the Living Word in Arlington Heights; Julie Weckwerth, CSSF, Felician Franciscan Community in Chicago

NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, which educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation, has a more than 40-year track record of lobbying for critical federal programs that support those at the margins and prioritize the common good.
###