We, the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, care deeply about the well-being of our nation, region and city. While we hold varying political views, we seek and support leaders who govern for the common good. Duluth’s leaders recognized that incivility posed a serious threat to good governance as early as 2003. They responded with the Speak Your Peace Civility Project, which we actively supported. In recent years, we have been alarmed by the rapid acceleration of political incivility. Polarized positions obscure truth, generate fear, and prevent elected officials from collaborating to solve the serious issues of our time.
Therefore, we support the Statement on Civil Discourse for the Common Good issued by the Leadership Council of Women Religious (LCWR) on July 1, 2016. We concur with LCWR’s Letter to Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates and their Party Chairs, which calls on all candidates and parties to turn aside from the rhetoric of extremism. Members of our community are among the 5671 sisters who signed this letter which states, “We cannot let the voices of hatred and fear carry the day.”
As Benedictines, we are called to “Seek after peace and pursue it.” We invite others to join with us in pledging to engage in honest and respectful dialogue throughout this election year, and to call on candidates at all levels of government to do the same.
Sister Beverly Raway, Prioress
St. Scholastica Monastery
Duluth, MN