The room rose as one. The applause was loud, not to say raucous, and it was sustained.
That applause came from somewhere deep in the consciousness of the assembled Catholics, all of whom share a commitment to the Church's social justice traditions and teaching. It came from the years of frustration as successive presidents failed to find the political calculus needed to enact universal health coverage. It came, most especially, from the recognition that we almost encountered another chapter in that catalogue of frustration. But, at the last minute, Sister Carol, with that counter-cultural combination of a wealth of knowledge and experience and the unique authenticity of one who has chosen poverty, provided the moral push that pushed health care reform across the finish line.
But was it loud enough for the bishops to hear?
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