G
gakroeger
Guest
cptryon.org/ask/ask/vows.htmlWhat vow of obedience have they broken? I am not aware that nuns are required to vow to agree with everything that a bishop says. The nuns had a different view of the effect of the health care bill. Lots of professionals analyzed the bill, and some came to different conclusions as to how it would effect abortion.
Bishop Brandt is within his authority to deny them support in his diocese, but to do so over this issue seems odd, to say the least. Is this the time to erect barriers to vocations to the religious life? And why - because they disagree with him on a very technical legislative interpretation?
The bishop is the recognized authority of the Catholic Church for ALL Catholics in his dioceses. All Catholics have a responsibility of obedience to Church teaching as instructed by their bishop. Nuns in particular take vows of obedience (see link above).
This is one of the Church’s main problems today. Not only lay people but many religious (these sisters and Father Murphy of Notre Dame) feel free go their own way and still claim to be Catholic.