PLAYTIME IS OVER
The Vatican drops the hammer:
The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has launched a 5-year reform of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), the association of the leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the United States representing more than 80 percent of the 57,000 women religious (nuns) in the country.
Based on a 2008 investigation into the nuns, the Vatican evaluation was candid, noting, “The current doctrinal and pastoral situation of the LCWR is grave and a matter of serious concern.”
The CDF doctrinal assessment, released today, criticized positions espoused at LCWR annual assemblies and in its literature as well as the absence of support from LCWR for Church teaching on pro-life issues, women’s ordination and homosexuality.
The CDF said that the documentation “reveals that, while there has been a great deal of work on the part of LCWR promoting issues of social justice in harmony with the Church’s social doctrine, it is silent on the right to life from conception to natural death, a question that is part of the lively public debate about abortion and euthanasia in the United States.”
“Further,” the CDF report said, “issues of crucial importance in the life of the Church and society, such as the Church’s Biblical view of family life and human sexuality, are not part of the LCWR agenda in a way that promotes Church teaching. Moreover, occasional public statements by the LCWR that disagree with or challenge positions taken by the Bishops, who are the Church’s authentic teachers of faith and morals, are not compatible with its purpose.”
The Vatican said that it has appointed Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle as its Archbishop Delegate for the initiative. Bishop Leonard Blair and Bishop Thomas John Paprocki also were named to assist in this effort.
It’s time, says Raymond Burke, for these women to choose this day whom they will serve.
Cardinal Raymond Burke head of the Vatican’s highest court – the Apostolic Signitura – in a speech earlier this year, denounced “the public and obstinate betrayal of religious life by certain religious.”
Burke asked: “Who ever could have imagined that religious congregations of pontifical right would openly organize to resist and attempt to frustrate an apostolic visitation, that is, a visit to their congregations carried out under the authority of the Vicar of Christ on earth, to whom all religious are bound by the strongest bonds of loyalty and obedience?”
“Who could imagine that consecrated religious would openly, and in defiance of the bishops as successors of the Apostles, publicly endorse legislation containing provisions which violate the natural moral law in its most fundamental tenets, the safeguarding and promoting of innocent and defenseless life, and fail to safeguard the demands of free exercise of conscience for healthcare workers?” he added.
From the Vatican report(linked above).
If you’ve been paying attention for any length of time, you already know what’s coming so be ready for it. Expects lots of cracks about a bunch of celibate old men beating up on poor, defenseless nuns.
Expect stories about all the good works these women do, peppered with quotes from leftist lay Catholics about how much they love and revere the nuns. The first “I’m only a Catholic today because of Sister __________,” pieces are probably being written as I type this as are the “Nobody respects Catholic bishops any more,” editorials.
The sexual abuse scandal will be mentioned as often as possible. And the Washington Post, CNN andHuffington Post religion sections, as well as sites like Religion Dispatches, will prominently feature stories from leftist nuns, some of them quite prominent, announcing that they’re “converting” to the Episcopal Organization.
More in sorrow than in anger, of course.
UPDATE: The Episcopal left weighs in, also to be expected.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, originally known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition, is treating the religious women of the Roman church like children. In its usual patronizing manner, the Vatican says, ‘We know best what God wants, so we will take charge.’ This is quite sad. Women religious include some of the best minds in the church, and their ministries are quite often examples of living the Gospel.
The powers in RCC are hunkering down and attempting to stifle dissent in an alarming way. I fail to see how they think this interference is good leadership or that anything good will result from it.
The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has launched a 5-year reform of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), the association of the leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the United States representing more than 80 percent of the 57,000 women religious (nuns) in the country.
Based on a 2008 investigation into the nuns, the Vatican evaluation was candid, noting, “The current doctrinal and pastoral situation of the LCWR is grave and a matter of serious concern.”
The CDF doctrinal assessment, released today, criticized positions espoused at LCWR annual assemblies and in its literature as well as the absence of support from LCWR for Church teaching on pro-life issues, women’s ordination and homosexuality.
The CDF said that the documentation “reveals that, while there has been a great deal of work on the part of LCWR promoting issues of social justice in harmony with the Church’s social doctrine, it is silent on the right to life from conception to natural death, a question that is part of the lively public debate about abortion and euthanasia in the United States.”
“Further,” the CDF report said, “issues of crucial importance in the life of the Church and society, such as the Church’s Biblical view of family life and human sexuality, are not part of the LCWR agenda in a way that promotes Church teaching. Moreover, occasional public statements by the LCWR that disagree with or challenge positions taken by the Bishops, who are the Church’s authentic teachers of faith and morals, are not compatible with its purpose.”
The Vatican said that it has appointed Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle as its Archbishop Delegate for the initiative. Bishop Leonard Blair and Bishop Thomas John Paprocki also were named to assist in this effort.
It’s time, says Raymond Burke, for these women to choose this day whom they will serve.
Cardinal Raymond Burke head of the Vatican’s highest court – the Apostolic Signitura – in a speech earlier this year, denounced “the public and obstinate betrayal of religious life by certain religious.”
Burke asked: “Who ever could have imagined that religious congregations of pontifical right would openly organize to resist and attempt to frustrate an apostolic visitation, that is, a visit to their congregations carried out under the authority of the Vicar of Christ on earth, to whom all religious are bound by the strongest bonds of loyalty and obedience?”
“Who could imagine that consecrated religious would openly, and in defiance of the bishops as successors of the Apostles, publicly endorse legislation containing provisions which violate the natural moral law in its most fundamental tenets, the safeguarding and promoting of innocent and defenseless life, and fail to safeguard the demands of free exercise of conscience for healthcare workers?” he added.
From the Vatican report(linked above).
Since the Final Report of the Apostolic Visitation of women Religious in the United States has now been submitted to the Holy See (in December, 2011), the CDF turns to the implementation of the above-mentioned decisions approved by the Holy Father as an extension of his pastoral outreach to the Church in the United States. For the purpose of this implementation, and in consultation with the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL) and the Congregation for Bishops, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has decided to execute the mandate to assist in the necessary reform of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious through the appointment of a Archbishop Delegate, who will – with the assistance of a group of advisors (bishops, priests, and women Religious) – proceed to work with the leadership of the LCWR to achieve the goals necessary to address the problems outlined in this statement. The mandate given to the Delegate provides the structure and flexibility for the delicate work of such implementation.
What will all that involve?
The mandate of the Delegate is to include the following:
1) To revise LCWR Statutes to ensure greater clarity about the scope of the mission and responsibilities of this conference of major superiors. The revised Statutes will be submitted to the Holy See for approval by the CICLSAL.
2) To review LCWR plans and programs, including General Assemblies and publications, to ensure that the scope of the LCWR’s mission is fulfilled in accord with Church teachings and discipline. In particular:
- Systems Thinking Handbook will be withdrawn from circulation pending revision
- LCWR programs for (future) Superiors and Formators will be reformed
- Speakers/presenters at major programs will be subject to approval by Delegate
3) To create new LCWR programs for member Congregations for the development of initial and ongoing formation material that provides a deepened understanding of the Church’s doctrine of the faith.
4) To review and offer guidance in the application of liturgical norms and texts. For example:
- The Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours will have a place of priority in LCWR events and programs.
5) To review LCWR links with affiliated organizations, e.g. Network and Resource Center for Religious Life.
If you’ve been paying attention for any length of time, you already know what’s coming so be ready for it. Expects lots of cracks about a bunch of celibate old men beating up on poor, defenseless nuns.
Expect stories about all the good works these women do, peppered with quotes from leftist lay Catholics about how much they love and revere the nuns. The first “I’m only a Catholic today because of Sister __________,” pieces are probably being written as I type this as are the “Nobody respects Catholic bishops any more,” editorials.
The sexual abuse scandal will be mentioned as often as possible. And the Washington Post, CNN andHuffington Post religion sections, as well as sites like Religion Dispatches, will prominently feature stories from leftist nuns, some of them quite prominent, announcing that they’re “converting” to the Episcopal Organization.
More in sorrow than in anger, of course.
UPDATE: The Episcopal left weighs in, also to be expected.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, originally known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition, is treating the religious women of the Roman church like children. In its usual patronizing manner, the Vatican says, ‘We know best what God wants, so we will take charge.’ This is quite sad. Women religious include some of the best minds in the church, and their ministries are quite often examples of living the Gospel.
The powers in RCC are hunkering down and attempting to stifle dissent in an alarming way. I fail to see how they think this interference is good leadership or that anything good will result from it.
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