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Here is the response, in ful, taken from the LCWR's website:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[Washington, DC] The national board of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) held a special meeting in Washington, DC from May 29-31 to review, and plan a response to, the report issued to LCWR by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The board members raised concerns about both the content of the doctrinal assessment and the process by which it was prepared. Board members concluded that the assessment was based on unsubstantiated accusations and the result of a flawed process that lacked transparency. Moreover, the sanctions imposed were disproportionate to the concerns raised and could compromise their ability to fulfill their mission. The report has furthermore caused scandal and pain throughout the church community, and created greater polarization.
The board determined that the conference will take the following steps:
· On June 12 the LCWR president Sister Pat Farrell, OSF and executive director Sister Janet Mock, CSJ will return to Rome to meet with CDF prefect Cardinal William Levada and the apostolic delegate Archbishop Peter Sartain to raise and discuss the board’s concerns.
· Following the discussions in Rome, the conference will gather its members both in regional meetings and in its August assembly to determine its response to the CDF report.
The board recognizes this matter has deeply touched Catholics and non-Catholics throughout the world as evidenced by the thousands of messages of support as well as the dozens of prayer vigils held in numerous parts of the country. It believes that the matters of faith and justice that capture the hearts of Catholic sisters are clearly shared by many people around the world. As the church and society face tumultuous times, the board believes it is imperative that these matters be addressed by the entire church community in an atmosphere of openness, honesty, and integrity.
UPDATE:
On June 1, Archbishop Sartain of Seattle issued this response:
Both the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and I are wholeheartedly committed to dealing with the important issues raised by the Doctrinal Assessment and the LCWR Board in an atmosphere of openness, honesty, integrity and fidelity to the Church’s faith. I look forward to our next meeting in Rome in June as we continue to collaborate in promoting the important work of the LCWR for consecrated life in the United States.
The Holy See and the Bishops of the United States are deeply proud of the historic and continuing contribution of women religious – a pride that has been echoed by many in recent weeks.
Dramatic examples of this can be witnessed in the school system and in the network of Catholic hospitals established by sisters across America which are lasting contributions to the wellbeing of our country.
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these proud arrogant nuns are the same followers of the evil one who boasted…I WILL NOT SERVE….they choose to serve what their pride tells them to serve…...they will break away from the american church with bishops who agree with them before the elections….keep embracing your birth control bills you so called catholic women…and keep embracing the same sex deviation, you pushes of filth…and the hand of GODS JUSTICE is coming down on his wounded Church and then the rest of this sick society
The Church doesn’t do anything quickly or with a lack of thoroughness. This didn’t just happen overnight. It is predictable that the leadership would be unhappy with the outcome. Of course, what they fail to address is their knowledge of the number of members who have left to take up membership in smaller and more faithful organizations.
It sounds like they think that it’s their job to evaluate the CDF, not the other way around. If they have no use for Vatican “meddling” then they should fly their true colors and stop calling themselves Catholic and receiving Catholic support.
So the response from the Sisters is a refusal to acknowledge their open heresy, and yet more open challenge to authority? Just yesterday I was listening to Catholic Answers Live on EWTN radio and a woman called in distraught because she had been attending daily mass where the Sisters (and priests) were changing the scripture readings and prayers to gender-neutral language (i.e., “Our Father” becomes “Our Parent”). It’s all so very un-Catholic. These heretics will simply have to be “managed” until they die off, which is happening rapidly. The heretical, radical feminist sisters are fading away; this will be their last gasp. Thanks to the stalwart doctrinal leadership of Blessed John Paul II and Benedict XVI, there is a ground-swell of orthodoxy rising among young Catholics. I pray that our next Pope will follow in the footsteps of these great men because I believe that with another decade of clear doctrinal leadership we will see the orthodox faithful wash these heresies completely away.
June 1st: it is the leadership council that is being called to task for their radical positions, not the members of the Religious communities they represent. The leadership council often stands publicly against the teachings of the Church…I have seen and heard Joan Chittister speak to groups of people…she does not hide her support for female ordination, contraception, etc…every major organization checks to see if their policies are being honored and followed every few years. This is just a common sense thing to do. These ‘leaders’ protest too much…Padre Pio was investigated and submitted in humble obedience, as did St. Francis, St. Teresa of Avila, and many others. These radical leaders are publicly defiant…Chittister writes for the National Catholic Reporter which uses the title “Catholic” while standing against the Church and her teachings…I hope Cardinal Levada will not be intimidated by these radical women…they are not at all timid in their liberal, radical stands.
This great blog post by Father Z says it all. Nun’s Gone Wild: http://wdtprs.com/blog/2012/04/nuns-gone-wild-a-trip-down-memory-lane/
A reading of the Board’s press release raises a number of questions: what “sanctions” do they refer to? I could not find any in the Doctrinal Assessment. What do they mean by saying that the Assessment caused “scandal”? Isn’t it the role of the Church to teach what is scandal? And what is their purpose in appealing to “Catholics and non-Catholics” alike? Are they acknowledging that they have elected the option of moving beyond the Church? It seems that by their press release, the Board is riding the wave of anti-Catholic sentiment evident in most of the media’s coverage of the Doctrinal Assessment.
The sisters are not the ones involved and caught up in scandals. As you judge so shall you be judged. The hierarchy as subordinates to G-d’s Will appears to be the ones being called out on the carpet.
I went through 16 years of Catholic education all overseen by sisters. The early part of my education was very orthodox and the sisters were wonderful. Highly educated women who put us students at the center of their lives. None were overly strict or mean as the media often portrays. It was a special time. In the 80’s things started to fall apart. We were taught a lot of “women’s study” type courses and some of the Catholic teachings in religion class seemed more political and social studyish. I even remember an assembly when they had the lyrics to Helen Reddy’s “I am Woman” on the overhead and they wanted all of us to stand up and sing. No one stood up. It was very strange. When asked later why we didn’t stand up and sing we just said, “It’s not our fight.” In college, the nuns were more traditional but we only were required to take one theology class and it was based on the Old Testament. As an adult I went to a women’s group speaker who was a nun. She spoke on centering prayer and it was nice but not necessarily Catholic—it could just have been used in any religion in which one prays.
I didn’t realize that Jesus supported such nasty and derogatory language. Tell me supposedly conservative Catholics…where do you find Jesus responding to people the way you are in the Scriptures? Who among you is without sin? I’m pretty sure none of you are so stop throwing the stones on a situation you apparently know nothing about. There is not room for such hatred within the Catholic Church.
Obedience! They are not living the vow of Obedience they promised to God when they entered Religious Life. As one who has taken that vow at ordination I understand why they have gone astray. It’s all about their failure to take that vow seriously. The sad part through their disobedience they are leading other astray and will be answerable to God for their actions. We must pray for them that they see “The Light”.
Anyone that professes to be a follower of Jesus’ teachings and does not stand up against abortion and same sex marriage, has no business of beeing called a Christian or even worst a Catholic. There is no greater crime than killing inocent babies that cannot defend themselves.
Up until the age of 23, I lived in a socialistic country with no freedoms; socialism is not a friend of the poor or the sick so the LCWR social justice is miss guided.
Point One: The sisters have been pro-life for thousands of years throught their work to educate, to heal the sick and comfort the sorrowful. How anyone can think they are not pro-life is beyond imagination. The US Bishops are also pro-life and they focus on the narrow issue of fetal life—commendable. But you cannot condemn the nuns for promoting life AFTER birth. Everything they do is about promoting life. Point two: the vow of obedience is to GOD not the Church. Yes, as members of the Church, those who vow obedience have a special allegience to Church authority, but don’t confuse the vow of obedience with mindless adherence to the Bishops, especially when the Bishops are not accountable to anyone. When the bishops ‘fess up to their sins, they can throw stones at the nuns.
J,
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“Who among you is without sin? I’m pretty sure none of you are so stop throwing the stones on a situation you apparently know nothing about.”
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If the early Church followed the advice the way you’re intending it in your comment, St. Paul would have been silenced. Your comment is highly misguided. The Church, its Bishops, and the Magisterium have been put there precisely to correct those who are highly misguided.
poor old ladies.One word: EXTINCTION
Let us not be harsh in our opinions this early. Our own examination of conscience begins a conversation with God that sheds light on our sinfulness that we are unaware of. Our conversation, through the priest in the confessional, with God ends with divine forgiveness. Let us all pray that this conversation between LCWR and the CDF goes the same way. Regardless, the LCWR is not perfect and some penance—change of heart and actions—will be necessary. We never know what changes we need, nor what penance we will be given until the end of our conversation with God, so we should have just an open mind about the LCWR. If they, however, want to shut out God, then they may, and they will have excommunicated themselves.
I grew up in a Catholic school environment with the good sisters of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth who did a great job of educating us both for our life in society and within our faith (1940’s,50’s). Our society would be a lot different than it is today if we still had such faithful, Catholic sisters teaching our children. Lots of the news regarding the LCWR and some oders of Nuns would suggest that the secular war between women is working among the religious as well. We need the good Sisters but they must be obedient and faithful to Church Teachings. If they wish to fight the fight of women’s rights etc., they need to find another vocation. I pray for the LCWR, good Sisters and the Church.
I didn’t realize that Jesus supported such nasty and derogatory language.
Cite an example and give a reason why it is nasty and derogatory as opposed to factual.
Jesus responding to people the way you are in the Scriptures?
Remember “Brood of Vipers”? Remember the cleansing of the temple?
It is nothing short of infantile when criticism, even should it be unjust, is summarily categorized as hatred. Many Catholics, if not most, can recall undignified, unworthy actions on the part of consecrated persons. Yes, matched very well. by laity, but always more of a stumbling block when encountered from the clergy. Does anyone imagine that nuns are perfect? No. Of course not. Are they above criticism any more than myself? No again. The point remains that there are orders of nuns who persistently and publicly flout normative Catholic teaching. They, as I, as you, need correction if they are clearly in the wrong, clearly creating scandal. We have no saints, no heroes of the faith, who considered themselves above criticism. I think listing the injuries and mercies at the hands of this nun, or that priest, is not especially helpful. What is likely to be helpful is to review the corporal and spiritual works of mercy and go do likewise.
J wrote:
I didn’t realize that Jesus supported such nasty and derogatory language. Tell me supposedly conservative Catholics…where do you find Jesus responding to people the way you are in the Scriptures? Who among you is without sin? I’m pretty sure none of you are so stop throwing the stones on a situation you apparently know nothing about. There is not room for such hatred within the Catholic Church.
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You might want to read Matthew 18:6, Matthew 23, Luke 17:2, Mark 9:42, and James 3. People in positions of religious leadership bear a greater burden of personal responsibility for their actions.
Maria said, “Anyone that professes to be a follower of Jesus’ teachings and does not stand up against abortion and same sex marriage, has no business of beeing called a Christian or even worst a Catholic.”
How odd that Jesus never mentioned these topics as a concern. How odd that was He focused on was love.
Are you quite sure you’re talking about the same person?
For J
As I recall, Jesus told the Pharisees they were vipers and snakes and reading the letters here so far, I don’t see or read anything derogatory so I encourage you to point out the specific language of your ire.
“Who among you is without sin? I’m pretty sure none of you are so stop throwing the stones on a situation you apparently know nothing about. There is not room for such hatred within the Catholic Church.”
J, we’ve heard that “song” too many times before. We disagree with you so we are “HATERS.” When all else fails, deal the race card or the hate card from the bottom of the deck. This tactic…it just does not work any more.
J,
Which “Jesus” are you referring to?
Malchus,
He never spoke about the internet or child pornography or nuclear war or embyonic stem-cell research or taking care of the environment or rights for women or Republicans and Democrats, or liberals or conservatives, or PETA or left-wing or right-wing or Socialists/Communists or “Afrian-Americans” or Harvard or Yale or The New york Times or Hindus or Buddhists or Muslims or Ferrari’s or pasta or Burger King of McDonalds or Starbucks or the Miami Heat or…
These heretical sisters remind me of a quote from the movie Gladiator, when Maximus told Commodus “The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end.” The bark of Peter will long outlast the pride of the LCWR. I pray that they receive the graces of humility and contrition and then reform the US orders to their original mission of service to the Church.
To whom ever posted this (it did not make it to the post section, only the alert e-mail):
“Point One: The sisters have been pro-life for thousands of years throughttheir work to educate, to heal the sick and comfort the sorrowful. Howanyone can think they are not pro-life is beyond imagination. The US Bishopsare also pro-life and they focus on the narrow issue of fetal life—commendable. But you cannot condemn the nuns for promoting life AFTER birth.Everything they do is about promoting life. Point two: the vow of obedienceis to GOD not the Church. Yes, as members of the Church, those who vowobedience have a special allegience to Church authority, but don’t confusethe vow of obedience with mindless adherence to the Bishops, especially whenthe Bishops are not accountable to anyone. When the bishops ‘fess up totheir sins, they can throw stones at the nuns.”
There’s no contradiction to the pro-life message and TRUE message of the social teaching of the Catholic Church. The only reason these nuns are “healing the sick and comforting the sorrows” are because of Jesus’ mandate. And where did they learn that mandate from? HIS CHURCH, the Roman Catholic Church. (And I really wonder how much “healing” they’re doing…) So, on the one end you say that this “obedience” is to God. I don’t know which “god” you’re referring to. But, the God of the Bible - New Testament and Old Testament - established a Church WITH a hierarchy. And isn’t that a great thing! Hierarchy is good, dissent is bad. All the first apostles and early Christians recognized the need for a hierarchy and were obedient. Are there Bishops and priests who are and have been leading the flock astray? Absolutely! But it’s not the Pope and those faithful to His Church. These nuns have been led astray by many bishops here in the US who have a warped understanding of the social teaching of the Catholic Church. Remember, too, that the primary purpose of the Catholic Church is not to feed the hungry and clothe the naked: It’s to save souls! These nuns should probably take their cues on how to live as faithful nuns from Mother Theresa’s order. Mother Theresa AWLAYS defended life - both the living and the unborn. Because there is no contradiction. ALL life is sacred. There is no distinction whether it’s in the womb or out. And if there are nuns who can’t see this basic, fundamental truth, they have no business calling themselves Catholic. They are free to do the work that they have engaged in. But not under the Catholic label.
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