LCWR Orders Receiving “Almost Equal” Numbers of Vocations as CMSWR Orders.
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Here is a preview of an interesting new study on women religious sponsored by two prestigious Catholic organizations that shows–contrary to popular opinion, and despite what a great many commentator have said–that “almost equal” numbers of women are entering both more “traditional” and “progressive” religious orders. The article, just posted online at America, is called, “Reality Check.”
This contradicts the received wisdom that those religious orders represented by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) are receiving absolutely no new vocations, and that those who are members of the Congregation of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR) are being flooded with applicants. This trope is repeated frequently by many commentators, even those favorably disposed to the LCWR. The authors of the study, however, write in one of their most interesting conclusions: “One of the most striking findings regarding new entrants is that almost equal numbers of women have been attracted to institutes in both conferences of women religious in the U.S. in recent years. As of 2009, L.C.W.R. institutes reported 73 candidates/postulants, 117 novices and 317 sisters in temporary vows/commitment. C.M.S.W.R. institutes reported 73 candidates/postulants, 158 novices and 304 sisters in temporary vows/commitment. (There are 150 nuns in formation in U.S. monasteries.)”
But popular opinion certainly would argue otherwise. George Weigel, for example, in an article in First Things called “Two Sisters, Two Views,” opined, “In any case, there can be no denying that the ‘renewal’ of women’s religious life led by the L.C.W.R. and its affiliated orders has utterly failed to attract new vocations. The L.C.W.R. orders are dying, while several religious orders that disaffiliated from the L.C.W.R. are growing.” But “utter failure” is inaccurate, as the study shows. [more]
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8 Comments
Here’s a take on this study from a woman in religious formation: http://pursuedbytruth.blogspot.com/2012/08/shame-on-america-magazine-and-all-of-us.html
One persons meat is another persons poison. I personally would favor a more progressive type of life, but hey, that’s what makes horse racing.
It’s way too soon to tell what impact the CDF initiative will have on recruitment to LCWR communities, or for that matter on the non-member, “traditional” communities. Even then, we still won’t be able to assess the perseverance rates in either sector, perhaps for years to come. That alone could help cool some of the heated rhetoric masquerading as dogma.
Also, the LCWR does include some orders who still wear their veils, pray, attend Mass and honor Church teaching rather than feminist heresy. This article doesn’t go into detail about the orders with vocations but it’s pretty clear from what we’re seeing in the media that the feminist “nuns” protesting in support of the occupy movement and against pro-life politicians are all old. If the LCWR votes to reject the Church ordered reform, I predict those orders faithful to Church teaching will pull out of the LCWR.
You are 100% right and they also should return to Pre-Vatican II which in my oppinion, would attract many people.
Well, the statistical analysis here is misleading. As the article notes, both the LCWR and the CMSWR have the exact same number of postulants — but, since the LCWR represents 80% of religious sisters and the CMSWR presumably reprents the other 20%, the LCWR SHOULD HAVE FOUR TIMES THE NUMBER OF POSTULANTS THAN THE CSMWR. Thus, the LCWR is attracting one-fourth the number of candidates they should be attracting, based on a pro-rata analysis.
So, the point remains: the LCWR is attracting one-fourth the number of candidates they should be attracting.
Jimmy you are a layperson, hardly in a position to instruct or give advise to Religious. Take you little catechism and soap box and stop bashing the Nuns.