More than 5,600 American women religious have signed a letter addressed to Presidential candidates, advising them that “we cannot let the voices of hatred and fear carry the day”.

The letter, written by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), will be sent on Monday, 8 August, to candidates of the Democratic, Republican, Green and Libertarian parties, their vice presidential running mates, and chairs of their respective parties.

The LCWR, based in Silver Spring, Washington, represents 80% of the estimated 57,000 women religious in the United States, with about 1,350 congregations. The letter’s 5,671 signatories are from ministries including education, health care, and other pastoral and social services.