We've birthed a new form of religious life

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mystagogia

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Wow, look at the epistle from this woman:

ncronline.org/news/women/we-have-given-birth-new-form-religious-life

What to make of this?

Frankly I’m shocked at her attitude, her venom, her open call to what looks pretty much like subversion and dishonesty.

I’m also stunned by “we have birthed a new form of religious life” and that they no longer feel “dedicated to the work of the apostolate”. Then, doubly stunned they they think that’s all no big deal that wouldn’t merit scrutiny!

What to think?

[edit: also floored by so many people who think that’s just great and who think her venomous letter is inspiring]
 
Not surprised. This is what I would expect from those that don’t like being told women can not be priests. IMHO many of the women have no respect for Holy Mother Church and want to see it torn apart.
 
Not surprised. But I’m glad there are women in the world who fight couragously for priests by their prayers, alms, works, and good example. They are strong models of womanhood and motherhood, in my opinion.
 
For those who haven’t read the author’s email/article, this seems to be the heart of it:
We are as different from "apostolic Religious Congregations” [such as those represented by the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, or CMSWR] (of whom the Vatican is much more approving) as the mendicants were from the Benedictine monks. The big difference is that they [apostolic Religious Congregations] read Perfectae Caritatis and did what it asked: deepened their spirituality (I hope), and did some updating – shorter habits, a more flexible schedule, dropping customs that were merely weird, etc. We read Perfectae Caritatis through the lenses of Gaudium et Spes and Lumen Gentium and we were called out of the monastic/apostolic mode and into the world that Gaudium et Spes declared the Church was embracing after centuries of world rejection.
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There is no problem with CMSWR-type communities continuing the older form. Benedictinism didn’t disappear when the Franciscans were founded. There is only a problem if they feel called to halt the journey we are on.
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ncronline.org/news/women/we-have-given-birth-new-form-religious-life
We have given birth to a new form of religious life
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Editor’s note: *When the Vatican announced in January that it was undertaking a study of institutes of women religious in the United States, many women religious were taken by surprise. Reactions were mixed, some welcoming the study, others anxious about it. *
Sr. Sandra M. Schneiders shared her thoughts with some colleagues and friends in an e-mail that was not meant for publication. But her letter did become public and NCR received several requests to publish the letter. We contacted Sr. Schneiders and she gave us permission to share her letter with our online readers.
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***Author’s Note: *** The following is not and never was an article nor intended for publication. It originated as a spontaneous response in an e-mail conversation among a few colleagues. It became public, so I am making a few changes [in brackets] to clarify references for readers who may not be conversant with the subject matter.
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Dear [Friends]
**Thanks for your e-mails. **
I am not inclined to get into too much of a panic about this investigation – which is what it is. We just went through a similar investigation of seminaries, equally aggressive and dishonest. I do not put any credence at all in the claim that this is friendly, transparent, aimed to be helpful, etc. It is a hostile move and the conclusions are already in. It is meant to be intimidating. But I think if we believe in what we are doing (and I definitely do) we just have to be peacefully about our business, which is announcing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, fostering the Reign of God in this world.
**
We cannot, of course, keep them from investigating. But we can receive them, politely and kindly, for what they are, uninvited guests who should be received in the parlor, not given the run of the house. When people ask questions they shouldn’t ask, the questions should be answered accordingly. I just hope we will not, as we American Religious so often do, think that by total “openness” and efforts to “dialogue” we are going to bring about mutual understanding and acceptance. This is not mutual and it is not a dialogue. The investigators are not coming to understand – believe me, we found that out in the seminary investigation. So let’s be honest but reserved, supply no ammunition that can be aimed at us, be non-violent even in the face of violence, but not be naive. Non-violent resistance is what finally works as we’ve found out in so many arenas.
**
. . . . .
**
**
(Sandra M. Schneiders, a member of Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Monroe, Mich., is a professor of New Testament Studies and Christian Spirituality at the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, Calif.)
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Pure chutzpah.
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Whatever is worrying them should be nonsense if there is nothing to unearth. Instead as the author says…keeping spreading the gospel of Jesus to others, and there’s no problem.
 
We cannot, of course, keep them from investigating. But we can receive them, politely and kindly, for what they are, **uninvited guests **who should be received in the parlor, not given the run of the house. When people ask questions they shouldn’t ask, the questions should be answered accordingly. I just hope we will not, as we American Religious so often do, think that by total “openness” and efforts to “dialogue” we are going to bring about mutual understanding and acceptance. This is not mutual and it is not a dialogue.
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I wonder what they’re trying to hide? What’s so shameful about bringing the Gospel to the margins of society, that they feel the need to hide it?
 
Also, what is the worst thing that can happen from this investigation? They are surely not going to shut down 95 % of the Religious Congregatons in this country, even if they’d like to
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“The wicked man fleeth, when no man pursueth” - Proverbs 28:1
 
Thanks for your e-mails.
I am not inclined to get into too much of a panic about this investigation – which is what it is. We just went through a similar investigation of seminaries, equally aggressive and dishonest. I do not put any credence at all in the claim that this is friendly, transparent, aimed to be helpful, etc. It is a hostile move and the conclusions are already in. It is meant to be intimidating. But I think if we believe in what we are doing (and I definitely do) we just have to be peacefully about our business, which is announcing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, fostering the Reign of God in this world.
I believe this part says it all. The Vatican (The Pope and Holy mother Church) is not looked upon with respect. I would wonder what “gospel” they are promoting to the world. I don’t know what opinions they tend to present to the world, yet I would wonder what they are afraid of.
 
“Aggressive, hostile, transparent, intimidating, uninvited”…is that how you would describe those whom our Holy Father has asked to conduct this survey? Is that how we would greet Pope Benedict who has requested this?
This woman is far from the Catholic faith and far from showing the charity and honor due to the Vicar of Chirst. She clearly does not believe that the Holy Spirit is guiding the Church. I hope a copy has been forwarded to the Vatican.
Shame on her. Pray for humility and change of heart for this poor woman.
 
One reader who responded to the original article made the comment that these so-called “progressive” women religious orders are seeing the friuts of their labors in the form of vanishing numbers. If their work is all about social justice, then why would a young (or older) woman want to become a nun? It’s the same with men - if the priesthood is all about things other than teaching the faith and saving souls, why become a priest? That’s a key reason why vocations to the religious life and priesthood have suffered. The loss of identity and purpose has caused many virtuous men and women to look elsewhere to use (or not use) their talents. Also, it’s interesting that Sr. Schneiders is so critical of the investigation that was done on the seminaries in the US. Her attitude appears to be arrogant and rebellious towards those in authority. Maybe that lesson was lacking in her order’s formation program.
 
IMHO it is also a reason some women are trying to become “priests”. With no understanding of the true meaning of religious formation for women then some are turning toward the place that does define the formation and duties. One of our home educated young ladies is in her second year of religious formation in a cloistered convent. This religious order has a problem now. The problem is that they need to expand their facilities because they have so many in formation. Don’t we wish (pray) that this problem was universal in the priesthood and other orders?
 
Not to sound redundant, but prayer is the answer. Pray for the Church, the Pope, bishops, priests, deacons, nuns, brothers and laity daily. This is the best protection. We have God’s word on it.
 
All of these old radical feminist nuns will be dead soon and will be judged.
 
Soutane said:
All of these old radical feminist nuns will be dead soon and will be judged.
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This is why we pray. As part of the Church Militant, it is our duty to pray for the others is the Church Militant (those of us here on earth fighting the fight) and the Church Suffering (those in purgatory) The Church Triumphant (those in heaven) prays for us all.
 
A few thoughts I had from the article:
  1. The Church has never, and never will, had a problem with anyone trying to bring the Gospel to the “margins” of society.
  2. I cannot see where any good can come from treating emissaries of the Holy Father as “unwelcome visitors”
  3. Pride: It seems to me that this woman wants to fast and to put ashes on her face and look drawn but still have her reward in the hereafter.
 
Luke 8:16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
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17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
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The innocent need not fear exposure, only the guilty.
 
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