Awaiting the Vatican
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Catholic sisters gather for a national meeting in St. Louis this week as the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which represents 80 percent of U.S. nuns, faces a sweeping overhaul from the Vatican. The organization has been scolded for promoting “radical feminist themes” and focusing on social justice ministries at the expense of speaking out against same-sex marriage and abortion.
The Vatican’s decision to pick a high-profile fight with nuns is a curious move. The Catholic Church still is reeling from clergy abuse scandals and faces a disquieting exodus of those baptized into the faith. Nearly 10 percent of U.S. adults are former Catholics — a figure that would make lapsed Catholics the second-largest U.S. denomination.
It’s hard to see how Catholic leaders restore a tarnished image and appeal to a new generation of spiritual seekers by cracking down on nuns who care for the sick, feed the hungry and welcome the immigrant. “Preach the Gospel always and when necessary use words,” St. Francis of Assisi instructed. These courageous women embody what it means to put faith into action. You can find them advocating for ethical business practices in corporate boardrooms, running Catholic hospitals and lobbying for the most vulnerable on Capitol Hill. Catholic nuns’ tireless support for health care reform, living-wage jobs and effective programs that help struggling families underscores that being “pro-life” doesn’t stop with defending life in the womb.
Catholic sisters in St. Louis are bringing light to dark places. In a blighted area of north St. Louis, Sister Carol Ann Callahan and other nuns have made St. Augustine Wellston Center a refuge of hope in a tough neighborhood. Along with committed volunteers, the center provides food, job skills training and legal assistance to people struggling to overcome poverty, drugs and the legacy of incarceration. Sister Sharon Neumeister directs Mercy Neighborhood Ministries, which connects vulnerable immigrant families to community health agencies and other vital social services. Sister Ann Crouse founded McAuley Counseling services to help a low-income population access mental health care. These stories are echoed across the country as Catholic sisters exemplify moral leadership that is earned by walking with the least, the last and the lonely in our society.
The Vatican’s crackdown on nuns is the latest sign that the Catholic hierarchy is in danger of alienating even faithful Catholics like us who are troubled that our religious tradition’s centuries-old commitment to the common good is being crowded out by a narrow culture war agenda. When Catholic bishops held a national meeting last fall issues of poverty and growing income inequality were not even on the agenda. Bishops have instead prioritized fighting same-sex marriage initiatives and battling the Obama administration over contraception coverage provided to women under the Affordable Care Act. A committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops even launched an investigation of the Girl Scouts last spring over concerns that some parish-sponsored troops could be using material from respected advocacy groups like Doctors Without Borders that take different positions from Catholic teaching on some issues. In a flashback to the McCarthy era, the Diocese of Arlington, Va., drew national attention last month for requiring Sunday school teachers to sign loyalty oaths. [More]
SOURCE
Tobias Winright and John Gehring/St Louis Post-Dispatch
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13 Comments
the sisters some must remember that the vow is also to the pope they feel they are doing the right thing and they are but keep in mind that there forcus is the poor yes but they must say the truth that abortion is murder and must stop also they must spesk about life that jusus is life. i am very proud of the work of the sisters in the us but they must acording to there vows rep. the vatacan, it was the vatican that esp. the lcwr let us not forget this. i pray that there will be a good rels. between the lcwr and the vatican let us also remember that the real issure is the saving of souls of oure brothers and sisters..peace robert s.
I’m sure the bishops applaud all these nuns are doing to feed the hungry, clothe the homeless and visit the sick, but there simply can be no caving in on the absolute truth is that abortion is absolutely wrong, no matter what one’s personal truth is. I concur with the bishops on that. The second big issue is homosexuals having sex together. While I think all people realize and understand that a small percentage of the population is attracted to its own sex, living it out in a sexual way with their partners is again absolutely not acceptable. They must live as chaste martyrs in this life and hope for a better life in the hereafter. Unattractive heterosexual people do it all the time.
Thanks for your post, Recovering. And, here’s some good news: Dr. Joe Nicolosi (www.narth.com), a CA psychologist, has convincingly shown that even those who report exclusive same-sex attractions can, in at least some cases (18% by his research) develop heterosexual interests.
So, those with SSA are not necessarily consigned to a life of chxstxty. These men need to “get themselves a woman” (to quote the lyrics from a 1970 song), marry her, and enjoy themselves.
No, Jim, this would only be o.k. if the woman they are “getting” knows about their homosexual attraction. I don’t believe they can “switch over.” Bi-sexual? Maybe. How would I know?!
No, Jim. This would only be o.k. if the woman he marries knows about his homosexuality and doesn’t care. It would not be o.k. if he keeps it a secret from her grounds for annulment.
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeuch.
P.S. Bottom line is, since the bishops (holding true to there ideology) can never cave in on those two points no matter what, the nuns should just split off and do their work in the secular arena and stop banging their heads against the wall.
Recovering thank you for pointing out that the marriage may be invalid, that is one of the things that may not be in the Catechism.
Attractive people also live chaste lives by choice. The beautiful young women who chose to follow Christ in Vocations and the healthy young males who serve us as Priests in God’s Church are a good example, also those who have lost their partner through death or separation.
At least one piece worth reading today, and no comments from Bishop Jim! Made my day.
I am readying my pronouncements as we speak, almondwoodturner!
No he thinks he’s pope, almondwoodturner.