Nuns Weigh Response to Scathing Vatican Rebuke

[rug]

By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: July 28, 2012

American nuns are preparing to assemble in St. Louis next week for a pivotal meeting at which they will try to decide how to respond to a scathing critique of their doctrinal loyalty issued this spring by the Vatican — a report that has prompted Roman Catholics across the country to rally to the nuns’ defense.

The nuns will be weighing whether to cooperate with the three bishops appointed by the Vatican to supervise the overhaul of their organization, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which represents about 80 percent of women’s Catholic religious orders in the United States.

The Leadership Conference says it is considering at least six options that range from submitting graciously to the takeover to forming a new organization independent of Vatican control, as well other possible courses of action that lie between those poles.

What is in essence a power struggle between the nuns and the church’s hierarchy had been building for decades, church scholars say. At issue are questions of obedience and autonomy, what it means to be a faithful Catholic and different understandings of the Second Vatican Council.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/us/us-nuns-weigh-response-to-scathing-vatican-critique.html?pagewanted=all

[47of74]

1. Cardinal Levada thinks this is an "an invitation to obedience."

I fear for the future of the church if this is the kind of people that are being put into positions of power and authority.

[rug]

2. It's survived a lot more than the likes of Levada.

Pompous ass.

[hedgehog]

3. This says it better than I can:

"Today’s Catholic fundamentalists are still troubled by: (1) the cultural revolution of the 1960s that questioned all institutions and brought profound social, economic and political consequences that continue to this day; and (2) the impact and immense cultural changes generated by the much-needed reforms of Second Vatican Council."

http://anothervoice-greenleaf.org/

[rug]

4. That's a good site.

[mmonk]

5. Due to the decision to become part of the religious right by the American Bishops,

the Church is rapidly becoming a split institution and the arrival to where we are now was inevitable. I finally lost my religion in the presidential campaign of 2004. Whenever I attend mass now, it is for my wife. My sons quit going awhile back. I'm sure we are not the only family affected this way. If it had not been for an influx of immigrants from Latin America, the church would have noticed a huge decline in the US (even as Douthat mocked the Episcopal Church for losing membership for being liberal).