Apostolic Visitator Mother Mary Clare Millea has agreed to drop a
number of controversial questions to which she had sought answers as
part of the inquiry into female religious congregations.
Information no longer being requested as part of the Vatican Apostolic Visitation, which began last January, includes the properties owned by the congregations, their most recent financial audits, ages of the sisters, and the ministries they are involved in, NCR Online reports.
Millea explained in a November 5 letter why she had dropped the request for the information.
"Many major superiors have already addressed concerns to the Apostolic Visitation Office regarding confidentiality and protection of privileged information about their congregation, the sisters themselves and their apostolate," Mother Millea wrote.
"Although our canonical and civil advisors concur that the Apostolic See has the right to all the information contained in the questionnaire, in response to your legitimate questions, I have determined that documents number 5, 6, 7, requested in Part C of the questionnaire, are not to be submitted to the Apostolic Visitation Office as part of this visitation."
She added that her office will return to congregation heads information already gathered regarding these subject matters.
"This change in design of the questionnaire," Millea wrote, "was made after listening to your concerns and after considerable prayer and counsel."
FULL STORY AND MORE DETAILS OF QUESTIONS @
Controversial questions stricken from religious study (NCR Online)