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THE VATICAN'S MISTRUST OF NUNS OUTSIDE THE CLOISTER.
According to The New York Times, the Vatican is currently conducting two broad investigations of American nuns working within society. While the Catholic Church has not officially provided specific reasons, the rationale behind the inquiries seems to be that sisters in the U.S. are a little too modern, a little too independent, and -- just perhaps -- a little too feminist:
In the last four decades since the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, many American nuns stopped wearing religious habits, left convents to live independently and went into new lines of work: academia and other professions, social and political advocacy and grass-roots organizations that serve the poor or promote spirituality. A few nuns have also been active in organizations that advocate changes in the church like ordaining women and married men as priests.American nuns might also be a bit open-minded for the Vatican's tastes, suggests one of the Church leaders behind the inquiries:
Cardinal Levada sent a letter to the Leadership Conference [of Women Religious] saying an investigation was warranted because it appeared that the organization had done little since it was warned eight years ago that it had failed to “promote” the church’s teachings on three issues: the male-only priesthood, homosexuality and the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church as the means to salvation.Now, canonical visitations are very serious things. They're provoked by accusations of grave misconduct. Like sexual abuse, financial malfeasance … and heresy. By investigating the sisterhoods that seem not to perpetuate the traditional view of submissive holy women, the Vatican is sending a message that gender equality has no place in Catholicism and is even contrary to accepted belief.
It's not exactly shocking that one of the more patriarchal institutions in human history is acting in a sexist fashion. But, as someone who was raised Catholic, that doesn't make it any less disappointing to be reminded that one can't both fully love God and be an independent woman within the Church. My great aunt was a Carmelite sister, who gave up a career in New York to enter a convent well before Vatican II. I was always impressed by her decision -- she felt it was her calling, and she was willing to sacrifice a life that, by all accounts, she loved for it. I wonder, though, if she might have served God somewhat differently if the Church had allowed her to.
--Alexandra Gutierrez
COMMENTS (9)
This investigation is long overdue. Too many nuns in the US have become nothing but neo-Marxist political activists. Its fine if they want to do that, but they should get off the Church dole. If they want to "do their own thing", they should do just that - their own thing. If they want to be independent, celebate social workers or political activists fine, but leave the religious order, get jobs and support themselves. NO one is stopping them.
Posted by: Bankei | July 2, 2009 8:37 PM
Too many nuns in the US have become nothing but neo-Marxist political activists.
Too bad if you and Pope Ratzo think "girlz are icky", but those Sisters DO have the right to express their opinions.
Even if they don't consist of right wing claptrap.
No wonder vocations are down. Who wants to be treated like a second class citizen?
Posted by: Anonymous | July 3, 2009 7:54 PM
The first comment should not go unanswered. I'm happy enough to be out of a church that seems to think that porker bishops wearing baseball caps with cans of beer in their hands shows the human touch, but I should offer by contrast the rather wonderful nun who taught my first grade class in 1954. A number of years back quite of a few of us were having a reunion and that nun, who has kept in touch with us and so many other students for so many years was scheduled to come. Unfortunately she had to withdraw at the last moment to help take care of some of the sick sisters in her congregation who were older than she is. If you do the math, you can figure that she's worked her tail off serving others 'til well past the age of 80, and has basically never been paid for any of it. So, Bankei, can the snark and offer a prayer of thanksgiving in rather humble gratitude for the service of these women.
Posted by: Gene O'Grady | July 4, 2009 1:13 AM
Well, as an atheist, I'm happy about this investigation because it will only provide more evidence to North American Catholics and all the rest of us about the accelerating irrelevance of the church to real life. It's just one more drip in the (ever so slow_ erosion of religion in public life.
Posted by: Jeff S. | July 4, 2009 1:17 AM
There's a story about JFK - during the 1960 campaign he had a chance to meet with either a group of nuns or a group of bishops. He chose the nuns because "the bishops are all Republicans." That's the real offense. The bishops and priests may be superior on paper, but by and large the laity of the Church have more respect for nuns. The bishops talk faith, the nuns live it.
- DW
Posted by: Anonymous | July 4, 2009 1:32 PM
Gene, you missed my point. I didn't say AlL nuns, I said TOO MANY. I wasn't referring top the hardworking nuns from your youth, or mine. I was referring to the ones that spend more time protesting nuclear arms than teaching kids about God. I'm referring to the nuns who spend more time on plitics than religion. Most nuns are great. A few, which amounts to "too many" want to turn the Catholic Church into the Episcopal Church, which is, if anyne want to face the truth, a dying denomination.
As for the rest of the comments, my comment had nothing to do with sexism. There are TOO MANY priests doing the same. I referred to nuns only because that was hat the article was about.
Posted by: Bankei | July 6, 2009 7:14 PM
I was educated by hardworking wonderful nuns.Nuns faithful to their vows and living according to Church teaching have nothing to fear from this Roman delegation.It is the sisters who have publicly denied Church teaching and supported activities against Church teaching who will need to give an account of their stewardship.
Posted by: Little One | July 6, 2009 8:58 PM
This investigation is long overdue. Too many (non-cloister) Catholic nuns have become totally secular beings. The first sign of this trend was when they abandoned the religious habit for secular dress. Too many nuns in the US have become nothing but neo-Marxist political activists. Its fine if they want to do that, but they should get off the Church dole. If they want to "do their own thing", they should do just that - their own thing. If they want to be independent, celebate social workers or political activists fine, but leave the religious order, get jobs and support themselves. NO one is stopping them.
Posted by: Thom | August 18, 2009 10:36 AM
Vocations are down all over the world in secular Novus Ordo convents where the nuns wear NO religious habit. Vocations are UP in traditional convents where nuns wear the traditional habit. There was a big story in The New York Times about this just last week. The lack of vocations has more to do with the abuse and "dumbing down" of Catholicism wrought by Vatican II, not by the present Pope's "German" return-to-tradition ways. Traditionalist seminaries are also BOOMING. Check your facts.
Posted by: Thom | August 18, 2009 10:41 AM