Well, not really finally, but sort of finally: the American Papist reports that Sister Donna Quinn, O.P., has been informed by her superiors "that her actions are in violation of her profession as a Dominican religious." Hey, how was she supposed to know the Church was adamantly opposed to abortion? After all, Ted Kennedy was an ardent supporter of abortion and he was apparently one of the greatest American Catholics who ever lived (because, first of all, he wasn't aborted).
But, as AP notes, "This response is a start, but it is still lacking." Of course, there is a lot lacking in this situation, including formation, obedience to clear and obvious Church teaching, discipline, accountability, and leadership. None of this, sadly, is surprising. As Donna Steichen documents in several places in Ungodly Rage: The Hidden Face of Catholic Feminism (Ignatius Press, 1991), Quinn has been a known player among dissenting nuns for decades, including being director of the radical National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN) in the 1980s. She continues to be a coordinator for the group, which openly supports abortion and the ordination of women.
There are just two possibilities: Sr. Quinn's superiors are clueless about her actions over the past thirty of so years, in which case they are completely incompetent, or they are supportive of those actions, in which case they should be called for a serious and real accounting. Hopefully the ongoing Vatican investigation of American women's religious will actually separate the wheat from the abortion supporters.
But, as AP notes, "This response is a start, but it is still lacking." Of course, there is a lot lacking in this situation, including formation, obedience to clear and obvious Church teaching, discipline, accountability, and leadership. None of this, sadly, is surprising. As Donna Steichen documents in several places in Ungodly Rage: The Hidden Face of Catholic Feminism (Ignatius Press, 1991), Quinn has been a known player among dissenting nuns for decades, including being director of the radical National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN) in the 1980s. She continues to be a coordinator for the group, which openly supports abortion and the ordination of women.
There are just two possibilities: Sr. Quinn's superiors are clueless about her actions over the past thirty of so years, in which case they are completely incompetent, or they are supportive of those actions, in which case they should be called for a serious and real accounting. Hopefully the ongoing Vatican investigation of American women's religious will actually separate the wheat from the abortion supporters.
Don't you think this deserves something more than this little slap on the wrist. It seems that more than "Sr" Quinn's superiors have been clueless. Archbishop Burke excommunicated those who were involved in the alleged ordination of women. Doesn't this require the same response. Yes these are rhetorical questions.
Posted by: Dave | Tuesday, November 03, 2009 at 04:10 PM
Read this story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-nun-reprimanded-04-nov04,0,6915847.story. Sr. Donna doesn't seem to be on the path to conversion of heart.
Posted by: Jack Swan | Wednesday, November 04, 2009 at 06:00 AM