A 'Hostile Takeover' of Women Religious
by Joan Chittister
After the Vatican's "hostile takeover" of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in April, I was particularly struck by one joke I encountered:
"Go Catholic ... and leave the thinking to us."
I laughed-but not much. That one, it seems, is too close to the truth these days.
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), a major educational center for superiors of Catholic women's religious orders in the U.S., was launched in 1956 at the urging of the Vatican. For years, it has been a venue where officers of every congregation of women religious are invited to meet, study, and consider together the role and place of women religious in the resolution of the issues of the time.
Now the LCWR has been put under the control of three bishops: Peter Sartain of Seattle; Leonard Blair of Toledo, Ohio; and Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois.
The officers and body of the LCWR-all superiors, prioresses, or other officials of major, longstanding institutions- are no longer authorized to plan its programs, engage its speakers, or create and implement its structures.
Instead, Sartain, Blair, and Paprocki have been appointed to oversee the group: to approve its programs, create its constitutions, determine its operational procedures, and define the content of its conferences. As in, "Leave the thinking to us."
Read the full article on Sojourners site |
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"Let's Make a Joyful Noise about Freedom for Women Religious!"
Tuesday, June 26,
5:00 - 6:00 pm
On the steps of the
Cathedral of the Assumption
433 S. Fifth Street, Louisville
Everyone and anyone who supports women religious in our community and in the U.S are encouraged to attend as well as those who simply enjoy group prayer. This is our fifth vigil, and many participants report simply enjoying the opportunity to come together as "church."
WHAT
"Let's Make a Joyful Noise about Freedom for Women Religious!" - a prayer vigil with lots of music focused on re-visioning just what religious freedom means in the Catholic tradition.
This vigil is specifically scheduled during the U.S. Bishop's Fortnight4Freedom and at the same time as the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) prepares to meet with the Vatican's office of the Doctrine of the Faith, which has been scrutinizing the sisters. LCWR asks for prayers not only for women religious but for the entire church.
Prayers will highlight the diverse ways the Spirit has led local women religious to express their one common Catholic faith--"One Spirit, many gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
This vigil asks us to follow the sisters and to come together, in love and service.
Prayers will be available in both Spanish and English.
Please bring some "joyful noisemakers (bells, spoons, drums, guitars and tambourines.
Members of the Louisville Youth Orchestra's percussion section will lead us off!
(Metered parking is available on-street and in a public garage immediately adjacent to the Cathedral)
Contact person:
Helen Deines
Telephone: (502) 468-0816
E-mail: helendeines@insightbb.com
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Things You Can Do to Support the Sisters
Talk about it:
Speak up for justice
Join the Vigil This Tuesday
June 26,
5 - 6 pm
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