Nuns vs. the Vatican

[DrPhil]

I could not figure out which old thread to bump so here goes.

Originally Posted by article

American nuns are gathering in St. Louis, Mo., this week for their organization's yearly national assembly, where they are expected to discuss the future of their relationship with the Vatican following scathing criticism of the nuns' alleged lack of fidelity to Catholic teachings.

This spring, after a three-year investigation, the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog issued a report questioning the organization's loyalty to some Church teachings, including the nuns' lack of outspokenness on issues such as gay marriage, abortion and contraception. Another concern voiced by the Vatican relates to conferences organized by the nuns featuring "a prevalence of certain radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith."

On April 18, the Vatican appointed Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle to oversee the nuns' organization and reform its programs to adhere more closely to "the teachings and discipline of the Church."




This week, the nuns will discuss a range of options for the future, from accepting the Vatican's mandate to starting a new organization independent of the church's control.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012...-response?lite

*******

We have had a couple of threads about this general topic over the years. What say you, GCers?

[pbear19]

This was briefly discussed on local news tonight, and I'll definitely be interested in following the story as it develops. I have a lot of respect for my Catholic friends, but not so much for a lot of Catholic doctrine that seems very antiquated when it comes to women's rights.

Hehe. Never thought I would see "radical feminist" in the same context as "nuns."

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by pbear19

Hehe. Never thought I would see "radical feminist" in the same context as "nuns."

You should see some of the nuns and sisters I know. But this is pretty radical, I will say. Then again, American Catholicism is fairly divergent from what Rome would express as an ideal.

[barbino]

The nuns that taught me in Catholic grammar school bordered on being progressively feminist. I stayed in a Catholic convent (family visitor's area) for a few days a couple years back and found those nuns were the same (it was the exact same order, the Benedictines). I am not surprised by the nuns v. the Vatican at all.

I had a professor who referred to herself as a "radical Jewish feminist." She was pretty radical.

[IrishLake]

It doesn't mention which order of nuns? I'd be interested to know. All the nuns I know have been Franciscan. I cna't imagine them doing this. Then again, they're all over the age of 80.


Speaking of nuns over the age of 80, how's this for a radical nun?
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012...-building?lite

[AGDee]

I knew a radical Franciscan. She ran my RCIA class with the very liberal priest. They were awesome

[SWTXBelle]

It's not a particular order of nuns; it's made up of the leadership of a number of orders.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Yeah that's what surprised me. I have had contact with both Benedictine and Ursiline nuns, as well as the Sisters of Charity and it wouldn't surprise me for a moment that they would do something like this. In fact from what I understand pretty much all the monastic women's groups in Idaho have been subject to Apostolic Visitations over the last few years.

[dekeguy]

I am sort of torn on this issue. On the one hand, I understand and commend the desire of the Sisters to be active in and relevent to society in the 21st century. On the other, I am troubled by their disregard for the solemn vows they took in the process of becoming Sisters in a Religeous Community. They pledge vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. This is true of all Catholic Orders of Sisters. Part of me wants to say "cut the red tape and go for it" while another part says "maybe you ought to resign and be released from your vows before you take action which brings conflict with the Vatican".

By the way, there is a major difference between Sisters and Nuns. Sisters are not cloistered and act as teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, cooks, bakers, etc. Nuns are cloistered and voluntarily take on a much tougher life of obedience and contempletive prayer. They would, I think, really need to be released from their Orders before they could in good conscience act independently. Their role is one I have never really understood as they follow a vocation which seems difficult for me to grasp.

Anyway, I would appreciate your takes on this as I see too many compelling arguments on both sides of the issue.