Nun will conclude 25 years as lobbyist, raising her voice for justice

Attired in a sedate business suit and sensible shoes, with a silver religious medal hung around her neck, Sister Sheila Walsh doesn’t set off any security alarms as she walks the halls of her workplace, the state Capitol building.

But anyone who assumes this Sister of Social Service has not come prepared for battle doesn’t know her.

For the past 25 years she has worked as a lobbyist—with fearless conviction and unbounded faith—advocating justice for people living in poverty.

Sister Walsh has spent the last 15 of those years as the founder and executive director of Jericho, an interfaith public policy organization dedicated to advocacy and education for social justice. It is a mission which will at least end temporarily in October, when she takes a sabbatical at the conclusion of the 2001-2002 legislative year.

“A good lobbyist can’t leave until a session ends. It would be like leaving a ship in the middle of the ocean,” she said.

Keeping the needs of people living in poverty in front of legislators has always been more than a job for Sister Walsh; it’s her calling. Her grounding in social justice issues came at the grassroots level when she worked for 10 years as a parish social worker in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

“I think if you’re working in public policy on social justice issues, you can’t really do a good job unless you’ve worked with the poor first, or grew up poor,” she noted. “Lots of people see the need for service, but don’t see the need for social change.”

She next served from 1971 to 1977 as director of the department of aging at Catholic Social Service in Sacramento, where she worked with local faith groups developing programs for seniors. Among the senior programs she started is Camellia City Center in downtown Sacramento.

Then on March 1, 1977, Sister Walsh formally registered as a lobbyist for the California Catholic Conference. Her job was to represent the state’s bishops and Catholic Charities organizations on social justice issues.

“Learning the legislative process was something I had to do on my own,” she recalled.

Among the tasks on her plate every legislative session is analyzing hundreds of bills by two key questions: Will this bill lead to change? How will it benefit the poor?

She said she learned early on that being the only registered nun lobbying at the Capitol either opens doors or closes them. But tenacity is something Sister Walsh has in ample supply.

“If you’re really committed to your cause as a mission, you just pursue that mission. If you feel strongly, people recognize it,” she said.

In her lobbying activities at Jericho, Sister Walsh typically has taken on issues that Catholics, Protestants and Jews can support. Jericho’s top issue is universal health care for all Californians. Legislation involving prenatal care for women, the Healthy Family program, mental health care for the homeless, and housing for low-income families are other priority issues.

Over the past 15 years, approximately two-thirds of the bills Jericho supported became law.

Sister Walsh has won over allies among both Democrats and Republicans, who she says all appreciate an honest approach.

“I think as a lobbyist you have to be credible. When you tell a legislator something, it has to be accurate,” she said. “A lot of it is about relationships built on honesty and integrity.”

Among Sister Walsh’s staunchest legislative advocates for the poor are Sen. John Burton (D-San Francisco), Assemblywoman Helen Thompson (D-Davis), Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg, (D-Sacramento) and Sen. Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont), who are among a list of legislators who have received 100 percent ratings from Jericho during legislative sessions.

“Sister Sheila is effective because she just never gives up,” Burton said. “She’s a living example of the Sermon on the Mount being put into practice every day.”

Deacon Patrick Henning, who serves at St. Mel Parish in Fair Oaks, is staff director of the Senate labor and industrial relations committee. He is also a former member of the Jericho board of directors. Describing Sister Walsh as “a dynamo who never takes no for an answer,” Henning said the nun’s success in pulling together a coalition of religious groups committed to justice is key.

“Over the years, she’s been able to stop disastrous budget cuts impacting the poor and disabled,” Henning said. “She is very, very good at that.”

Jericho is planning to celebrate its 15th anniversary June 12 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (lower level) in Sacramento. A fund-raising event, with the theme “Moments to Remember,” will honor Sister Walsh for leaving a legacy of commitment to social justice for Californians living in poverty.

As for Sister Walsh, who can only vaguely recall the time when she took off more than a week’s vacation a year, October will be the start of a much-needed break.

“I need to get away and hope to travel some,” she said, leaving the door open as to what is next on her agenda after that.

Sister of Social Service Simone Campbell will begin her duties as Jericho’s executive director on October 1.

Copyright © 2001 Diocese of Sacramento - All Rights Reserved

[Catholic Herald - Cover Page]