The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is deeply concerned about the state of our nation and the future of our democracy. We are facing one of the most consequential elections of our lifetimes in a nation that is increasingly divided.
As an organization, we are committed to using our voice in the public square to speak about matters of justice and moral good. We use this voice, as we have for decades, by advocating for justice and by speaking publicly about what we value, and the direction in which we want to see our nation move.
We believe this election now calls us to take action to repair our democracy and contribute to the work of building a more perfect union. We are initiating an eight-week process of contemplative dialogue, deep listening, and mutual respect. These actions, we believe, are the most powerful and prophetic we can offer. We hope they will be an antidote to the destructive public discourse that bombards our nation and seeps into conversations with neighbors, colleagues, family, and friends.
As a conference, we are committing to a journey of faith and dialogue throughout the election season which we are calling, “Towards a More Perfect Union” and we invite widespread participation in this effort. Beginning September 15 and continuing for the following Tuesdays through election day, we will post a weekly reflection designed to seed thought and prayer on the values that are critical to healing our democracy. Each reflection will be accompanied by conversation-starter questions that can become the basis for dialogue. We invite participants to form dialogue groups that bring people together with diverse opinions and perspectives for honest, respectful sharing of insights. In so doing, we can begin a process that facilitates greater understanding across differences and hopefully contributes to the healing of our nation -- one small group at a time.
The skills of contemplative dialogue, deep listening, and mutual respect that center on the dignity of all people – even those with whom we disagree – are, we believe, what our nation most needs. #LCWRElection2020
