Sister Simone Campbell championed learning to listen respectfully to different perspectives and entering into truly fruitful dialogue, especially during a divisive election year, during “Breaking the Impasse VII: Call to Bridge the Divides,” a Feb. 23 lecture at St. Catherine University.

Drawing on Pope Francis’ analogy of “bridge building” used in his September address to Congress, she said that bridges must first be deeply rooted in the bedrock of one’s convictions, but that rootedness shouldn’t be mistaken for the “bridge” itself. She went on to address the divides of racism, economic barriers and politics.

Sister Simone is a Sister of Social Service and executive director of NETWORK, a Washington based, based Catholic social justice lobby.

Also presenting was Dr. Fatma Reda, chairwoman of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition’s executive board.

The event was sponsored by the Justice Commission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, NETWORK and St. Kate’s Myser Initiative on Catholic Identity.