[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10250]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONOR THE CATHOLIC SISTERS

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I recently added my name to a resolution 
introduced by Representative Rosa DeLauro to honor the Catholic sisters 
for their contributions to this country and to my community.
  I grew up in the shadows of the Mercy Convent of south Buffalo, New 
York. The sisters came to Buffalo in 1858, started hospitals to heal 
the sick, schools to teach the ignorant, and to help all of us see the 
gifts of God's presence in a changing world.
  The sisters take a vow of poverty and obedience to serve God and 
God's people, particularly women and children.
  The Vatican says that the sisters are failing to uphold the Catholic 
doctrine and appointed three bishops to rein them in. The sisters 
reject the Vatican's assessment of their life work and vow to fight.
  In scripture, Jesus says: ``Whatever you do to the least of my 
brothers and sisters, you do for me.'' The sisters are doing God's work 
with courage, conviction, and selflessness.
  May God's guiding wisdom continue to inspire their good works.

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