For Immediate Release: April 16, 2015

Organizational media contacts:                      

Kate McElwee (Rome)  +39 393.692.210                     

Deb Rose-Milavec  (USA)  513-673-1401 

Statement from the Nun Justice Project:

The Nun Justice Project is glad to see that the Vatican has removed their mandate against the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). 

Today's joint statement is testimony to the dogged determination of LCWR sister-leaders to persevere in dialogue with those who unjustly maligned them.  It is fitting that in the Year of Consecrated Life, Church officials have at last recognized the good works and impressive leadership of the sisters.

The Nun Justice Project believes that an apology should also have been given to the sisters, but the end of the investigation is a major step in itself.  Since no previous Pope ever met with LCWR leadership it is hopeful that Pope Francis met personally with them today.  May this meeting inaugurate new era of positive communication between the Vatican and women leaders in the Church.

 "As usual, the living example of the women has inspired us," said Erin Saiz Hanna, a member of the coalition, "The nuns responded to this show of patriarchal abuse by finding ways to resist its intrusion and transformed the process by modeling inclusive dialogue."

"It is my hope that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will institute similar dialogic processes and procedures for addressing other disputed issues in the Church," said Francis DeBernardo, another coalition member.

Since the LCWR mandate was announced, thousands of Catholics have stood up to call for the end of this unnecessary and demeaning "investigation."  We are gratified that the immense worth of the work of women religious is being recognized.  However, we also remain watchful since some still-to-be-implemented aspects of the joint statement could be interpreted as restricting the conscience rights of sisters.

Over the past five years, the Nun Justice Project organized massive support for women religious. Tens of thousands of Catholics petitioned the Vatican and participated in hundreds of public demonstrations, prayer services, vigils, and media events.  Their voices have been instrumental in advancing due process, raising up women's leadership voice and promoting justice in the Church. 

For background on the Nun Justice Project's work addressing the LCWR mandate visit nunjustice.org.