Vatican demands reform of American nuns' leadership group [CWN]

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The “Industrial Areas Foundation” (IAF) trained Barack Obama in community organizing, and I’m afraid that the ideas promoted in this group have also affected women religious. Here is an example :catholicnunstoday.org/sister-pearl.asp

Read the full bio, and you’ll see her connection with IAF.

One of the tactics suggested (and decribed in “Organizing the South Bronx” by Jim Rooney) was to “wean churches from fulfilling traditional expectations.” p223

The next link shows something similar. Scroll down to the one of the posts marked April 1, 2010. (Sr, Maribeth Larkin, SSS):sistersofsocialservice.com/news.cfm
 
Corki said:
usccb.org/news/2012/12-062e.cfm

Archbishop Sartain certainly needs our prayers and support.
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I agree. I never thought I would react the way I just have to the comments posted about the story on whatever the “news” website that pops up when I go onto the Internet. Every single one I read - all the top ones - were anti-Vatican, anti-Pope, anti-Catholic, and anti-just about everything I believe in.

I started crying. Catholics are not just hated. We are hated with a vengeance. I read language that just mad me feel so sick inside. I felt like I had been spat upon by about a thousand people.

What is going on? I read the original story, I read the letter, and I agree that there is a problem with the organization. And now it appears that the nuns are all out feeding the poor while the Vatican is full of old men who are all pedophiles and misogynists.

This isn’t the Church! Why don’t these people just leave us alone if they hate us so much? Right now I feel like I’m a soldier for God and I should be doing something but I also feel so much sadness for what Jesus must be feeling right now (and Mary, too) and I don’t know how to fight when I’m full of despair. I will pray, of course. But I just never saw so much hatred for the Church that I have been so blessed to have found. Just today I listened the first time to Colin Raye’s rendition of the hymn sung in church so much (I don’t know the name but it’s the one that goes: “I am here, Lord. Is it I, Lord?” and I was tearing up because it was just so beautiful.

And then this happened. I can’t ignore it. I want to defend my Church with my life if necessary. And I will. But I don’t understand how EVERY comment I read was so nasty and awful. I didn’t know it was this bad. I know Jesus was hated. I know Jesus was spat upon. I guess I should understand how that must have felt a little bit better now.

We’re really hated, guys. These same people who are defending the nuns in that organization will turn on them, too. And who is going to defend them?

I feel like I just got pierced to the heart. Fortunately I don’t feel like I got pierced to the soul because I know the Church is right and the Vatican is correct on its course of action IMHHHO. I’m just disgusted and saddened by the hatred shown to God’s Church by people who are probably pretty good people all around. Or am I wrong about that? I’m really confused right now.
 
This thread is about “Vatican demands reform of American nuns’ leadership group [CWN].”
 
Maybe if the Vatican and our Bishops are determined to bring down the Sisters of the LCWR, they might begin contributing to their reitrement funds. For years these women served our schools and were paid very little, if at all. They depend on collections and donations. Many are in retirement now and communities are feeling the grave burden of shrinking funds. This study cost over 1 million dollars. Wow! I was educated by these women and I am deeply grateful for the excellent education I received. Much of who I am as a lifelong Catholic is because of the Sisters.
 
I just noticed that some one said to be weary (or do you mean beware.) if you see the words “peace and justice” because these words have been manipulated to glorify humans, not God.

What a terrible thing to say about many of the Sisters who have dedicated their lives to Christ’s poor, some who have suffered and died in Third World countries, Dorothy Stang for one.
Regardless of wether or not you agree with what the Vatican is doing to the LCWR, this is VERY uncharitable and morally wrong.
 
JoanC said:
Maybe if the Vatican and our Bishops are determined to bring down the Sisters of the LCWR, they might begin contributing to their reitrement funds. For years these women served our schools and were paid very little, if at all. They depend on collections and donations. Many are in retirement now and communities are feeling the grave burden of shrinking funds. This study cost over 1 million dollars. Wow! I was educated by these women and I am deeply grateful for the excellent education I received. Much of who I am as a lifelong Catholic is because of the Sisters.
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I don’t think the aim is to “bring down” or to “chastise” as someone else put it. The aim is to reform. Throughout the history of our church there have been religious orders that have strayed from the mission of their founders. For example, I recall reading that St. Teresa of Avilla led a reform of her order of Carmelites. In this case, however, it is The Leadership Conference of Women Religious ( LCWR), the organization that was formed and exists to be a support and a voice for many congregations of women religious in our country that is in need of reform. The organization forms and influences leaders that go back to their respective congregations and from there they spread these new influences, often contrary to what they had previously lbeen taught and sometimes even contrary to the teachings of the Church. There are faithful nuns and sisters who have been troubled by this invasion into their congregations and they welcome this reform.
Archbishop Sartain said that his main role in the reform process would be to “facilitate relationships and understanding.”

Saying that he hoped he could “help the sisters and the LCWR recognize that we are all in this together,” the archbishop called the reform a “great opportunity” for women religious, U.S. bishops and the Vatican to “strengthen and improve all of our relationships on every level.” arkansas-catholic.org/article.php?id=2971
 
JoanC said:
Maybe if the Vatican and our Bishops are determined to bring down the Sisters of the LCWR, they might begin contributing to their reitrement funds. For years these women served our schools and were paid very little, if at all. They depend on collections and donations. Many are in retirement now and communities are feeling the grave burden of shrinking funds. This study cost over 1 million dollars. Wow! I was educated by these women and I am deeply grateful for the excellent education I received. Much of who I am as a lifelong Catholic is because of the Sisters.
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This is true in part, and untrue in part. Part of the reason why some orders are now burdened with the cost of caring for older nuns is that there are few or no younger nuns in some of them. They always used to take care of their own.

But some orders are quite well off financially, and some of them are also winding down in numbers; greater wealth controlled by fewer and fewer. I remember a hospital not far from here which was once operated by sisters and built by the donations of the faithful. Ultimately, it came under the control of the (somewhat) younger ones who voted down the older members. The one in charge locally styled herself the “CEO” of the hospital and dressed in civvies, including earrings. At a point, the order sold the hospital, took the money and left. Just like that. One of the old nuns stayed on as an employee…the only sister there. She said she just couldn’t bear to leave her lifetime vocation (healthcare) for the new “ministries” her order had decided upon. Ultimately that old nun got sick, went back to the mother house and died shortly thereafter. It was her belief that her order was simply turning into a private foundation with fundamentally secular objectives, and I do not for a moment doubt that she was right.
 
On the other hand, I met some sisters who are part of a new order call the “Sisters of Life”. They work in the South Bronx among the very poorest. Their objective (all of them are RNs as near as I can tell) is to aid poor women in avoiding abortion, abuse, and in obtaining healthcare for themselves and their babies. They also evangelize in the course of doing what they do. Some of the most desperate they board in their own convent. They help them in getting training and jobs. Every single one of them (judging by their photos) is young. Their stories are truly touching and deserving of respect in every way.
 
Ridgerunner said:
On the other hand, I met some sisters who are part of a new order call the “Sisters of Life”. They work in the South Bronx among the very poorest. Their objective (all of them are RNs as near as I can tell) is to aid poor women in avoiding abortion, abuse, and in obtaining healthcare for themselves and their babies. They also evangelize in the course of doing what they do. Some of the most desperate they board in their own convent. They help them in getting training and jobs. Every single one of them (judging by their photos) is young. Their stories are truly touching and deserving of respect in every way.
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This sort of story is happening all over. The orders with a reputation for faithfulness to the Gospel and who keep Jesus as the primary focus, even while performing their apostolate in the secular world, are thriving. By all accounts, the same thing is true for seminaries. I am not suggesting that it is universally true in every single case, but the trend is definitely there.

Peace,
 
Radical feminism was allowed to permeate the Catholic Church unabated for the better part of three decades. Many of these nuns have championed the radical feminist agenda…including support for the “pro-choice” (pro-death) movement. A deaf ear was turned to this problem and now the Vatican is trying to deal with it. I pray that they succeed in reforming this cancer that has crept into the church.

newoxfordreview.org/covers-pdf/ead-feminists.pdf
 
Donna_Mc said:
I don’t have the time to read through everything here but today a neighbor of mine was complaining about something she saw in the newspaper where the Holy Father was supposed to be complaining about nuns. She made it sound like he was attacking all nuns saying they were not doing enough as far as prolife work and other things as they should be. I told her that didn’t make sense. The only thing I am seeing is the Vatican is asking for the reform of some specific groups only. She insisted that he was picking on all nuns and he should be picking on the priests instead (back to the scandal comments)😦

I am having a bad day anyway but wanted to get some information to straighten this out when I see her tomorrow. Your help here is appreciated!
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Donna, this article at Fr. Zuhlsdorf’s blog will be very helpful as it gives the “bona fides” of the leadership of the LCWR:

wdtprs.com/blog/2012/04/nuns-gone-wild-a-trip-down-memory-lane/#comments
 
jwinch2 said:
This sort of story is happening all over. The orders with a reputation for faithfulness to the Gospel and who keep Jesus as the primary focus, even while performing their apostolate in the secular world, are thriving. By all accounts, the same thing is true for seminaries. I am not suggesting that it is universally true in every single case, but the trend is definitely there.

Peace,
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An interesting thing one of them told me was this. On some occasion or other, two of them were going to Rome. A visit by the order to the Pope, i think. Anyway, on the flight some guy passed out. They took charge of him and figured out that he had simply hyperventilated due to being a bit afraid of flying. In the course of getting him back in condition he noticed their old-style habits and mentioned that he was a fallen-away Catholic. Anyway, one of them spent a considerable amount of time encouraging him to go back to the Church. Very kindly. At some point, the pilot wanted to know what was going on and asked one of them to come to the cabin to let him know about the passenger. Somehow, he ended up saying he was fallen away and wanted to talk about that. So they did. Both of the nuns (who are trained to do it, by the way) had very meaningful conversations with them about faith and about returning. They said that sort of thing happens all the time.

I commended them on their habit (being a bit old-fashioned myself). They both said they felt the habit to be an advantage in their mission. People KNOW they’re nuns instantly, and constantly want to talk religion with them. Sometimes they’re people wanting some guidance. Sometimes they’re angry and want to vent. Sometimes they’re just curious. People needing help of other kinds figure maybe they will be kindly and help out somehow.

Perhaps most interestingly, I said something about personally not being anywhere near their level in holiness to live the disciplined lives they lead. “Oh no” one said. “It’s because we’re sinners that we need more prayer and structure, not because we’re better.”

Remarkable, remarkable, remarkable.
 
LittleSoldier said:
I agree. I never thought I would react the way I just have to the comments posted about the story on whatever the “news” website that pops up when I go onto the Internet. Every single one I read - all the top ones - were anti-Vatican, anti-Pope, anti-Catholic, and anti-just about everything I believe in.

I started crying. Catholics are not just hated. We are hated with a vengeance. I read language that just mad me feel so sick inside. I felt like I had been spat upon by about a thousand people.

What is going on? I read the original story, I read the letter, and I agree that there is a problem with the organization. And now it appears that the nuns are all out feeding the poor while the Vatican is full of old men who are all pedophiles and misogynists.

This isn’t the Church! Why don’t these people just leave us alone if they hate us so much? Right now I feel like I’m a soldier for God and I should be doing something but I also feel so much sadness for what Jesus must be feeling right now (and Mary, too) and I don’t know how to fight when I’m full of despair. I will pray, of course. But I just never saw so much hatred for the Church that I have been so blessed to have found. Just today I listened the first time to Colin Raye’s rendition of the hymn sung in church so much (I don’t know the name but it’s the one that goes: “I am here, Lord. Is it I, Lord?” and I was tearing up because it was just so beautiful.

And then this happened. I can’t ignore it. I want to defend my Church with my life if necessary. And I will. But I don’t understand how EVERY comment I read was so nasty and awful. I didn’t know it was this bad. I know Jesus was hated. I know Jesus was spat upon. I guess I should understand how that must have felt a little bit better now.

We’re really hated, guys. These same people who are defending the nuns in that organization will turn on them, too. And who is going to defend them?

I feel like I just got pierced to the heart. Fortunately I don’t feel like I got pierced to the soul because I know the Church is right and the Vatican is correct on its course of action IMHHHO. I’m just disgusted and saddened by the hatred shown to God’s Church by people who are probably pretty good people all around. Or am I wrong about that? I’m really confused right now./QUOTE

I feel the same way, but TAKE COURAGE!!! Jesus has already overcome the world!
The sisters have a vast socio-political machine that works full time to influence others through the media. They do it full time, and they use psychological manipulation among other things, to achieve their ends. But a lie is a lie, and will eventually be found out.

It seems as if we’re outnumbered, but that’s not the case at all. We’re just not represented in the media. Pray, pray,pray that the truth will shine out. God is great.

Unfortunately, the Church is not as media savvy as these women , and does not have a huge network of militants and lobbyists working day and night to promote its agenda.
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Ridgerunner said:
An interesting thing one of them told me was this. On some occasion or other, two of them were going to Rome. A visit by the order to the Pope, i think. Anyway, on the flight some guy passed out. They took charge of him and figured out that he had simply hyperventilated due to being a bit afraid of flying. In the course of getting him back in condition he noticed their old-style habits and mentioned that he was a fallen-away Catholic. Anyway, one of them spent a considerable amount of time encouraging him to go back to the Church. Very kindly. At some point, the pilot wanted to know what was going on and asked one of them to come to the cabin to let him know about the passenger. Somehow, he ended up saying he was fallen away and wanted to talk about that. So they did. Both of the nuns (who are trained to do it, by the way) had very meaningful conversations with them about faith and about returning. They said that sort of thing happens all the time.

I commended them on their habit (being a bit old-fashioned myself). They both said they felt the habit to be an advantage in their mission. People KNOW they’re nuns instantly, and constantly want to talk religion with them. Sometimes they’re people wanting some guidance. Sometimes they’re angry and want to vent. Sometimes they’re just curious. People needing help of other kinds figure maybe they will be kindly and help out somehow.

Perhaps most interestingly, I said something about personally not being anywhere near their level in holiness to live the disciplined lives they lead. “Oh no” one said. “It’s because we’re sinners that we need more prayer and structure, not because we’re better.”

Remarkable, remarkable, remarkable.
Click to expand...
It is certainly remarkable.

The only thing I would say is that we have to be a bit careful about suggesting that wearing of the habit makes one a good or bad religious. I know that is not what you were doing but I want to put this information out there for the sake of others who might not know about it.

There are several groups of religious that were never supposed to be in the habit to begin with, per their constitutions and the intent of their founder. Some of them adopted it because they thought it was what they were supposed to do. When they were instructed by Rome to go back to their roots, many dropped it and adopted secular clothing since that is what their roots were. What they wear has no relationship to whether or not they are faithful to Christ’s Church or not.

Do I think the habit can be a powerful witness to others? Absolutely.
 
JoanC said:
I just noticed that some one said to be weary (or do you mean beware.) if you see the words “peace and justice” because these words have been manipulated to glorify humans, not God.

What a terrible thing to say about many of the Sisters who have dedicated their lives to Christ’s poor, some who have suffered and died in Third World countries, Dorothy Stang for one.
Regardless of wether or not you agree with what the Vatican is doing to the LCWR, this is VERY uncharitable and morally wrong.
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It is not uncharitable, nor is it morally wrong. It is the truth. Notice that the poster said the words were being “manipulated”.

One cannot dedicate one’s life “to Christ’s poor” in truth while remaining absolutely SILENT about the current holocaust of millions upon millions of innocent unborn humans.Religious sisters may have various ministries, but they ALL have to, even in some small way, stand up for these silent, helpless victims.

They omit this because it isn’t “politically correct” and is unpopular.

The truth is, that most of these groups have completely omitted any word or deed on behalf of these innocents. In fact, some have even worked to promote abortion, unbelievable as it may seem.

Yes, they do good work, but the true REASONS for doing it are undermined when they depart so seriously from the wholistic life ethic of the Church and when they depart from the faith (almost altogether in some cases) doctrinally and theologically.

You act as if they are a government entity that is being castigated for doing good works. But they are CATHOLIC nuns/sisters. They need to actually BE Catholic if they are going to serve under its auspices.

Actually, what they really do is use the Church for cover. And then follow their own whims and fancies. While collecting donations from unwitting CAtholics.
 
JoanC said:
Maybe if the Vatican and our Bishops are determined to bring down the Sisters of the LCWR, they might begin contributing to their reitrement funds. For years these women served our schools and were paid very little, if at all. They depend on collections and donations. Many are in retirement now and communities are feeling the grave burden of shrinking funds. This study cost over 1 million dollars. Wow! I was educated by these women and I am deeply grateful for the excellent education I received. Much of who I am as a lifelong Catholic is because of the Sisters.
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Oh please!!! The Vatican and the Bishops “are determined to bring down the Sisters of the LCWR” !!!

If anything, they are being commended for their good work, and are being asked to avoid neglecting the current major holocaust of innocent human beings. If they are truly for social justice, they will do this, as abortion is a social justice issue!

Also, if they want to remain Catholic, then they have to BE Catholic. The theology and doctrines that are used and promoted are not at all Catholic.

As far as retirement goes, most of the Sisters have given up the schools and teaching that you referred to, and instead of continuing to teach for very little, they (who took vows of poverty) abandoned the whole thing and left it to lay people to teach for very little (who did not take vows of poverty). Hows that for social justice?

The elderly nuns in these congregations suffer terribly due to the gross infractions against poverty engaged in by many of the sisters. I cannot afford the types of clothing many of them wear, nor can I go get my hair done as often as they, and I certainly cannot afford to travel or eat out in the expensive places that they do. If they want to help the elderly nuns, they need to reform themselves. Then they might attract new vocations, and there will be more money coming in. Who wants to join a religious congregation that has a lifestyle that is absolutely no different than that of the average single lay woman? Might as well just join a club.
 
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