the bus tour was created as a response to "a blistering critique of american nuns" initiated by the vatican under pope benedict xvi. the critique accused the nuns of being more outspoken on issues of social justice, than on issues that the church hierarchy of the time viewed as more important: abortion and same-sex marriage. in a program the new york times called a "spirited retort to the vatican" the nuns organized a bus trip across nine states, visiting homeless shelters, pantries, education and health care facilities run by nuns. the purpose was to give visibility to the nuns' efforts on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised.