Read the entire piece.BLOOMFIELD – While the media have paid much attention to the leaders of several American women’s congregations who are reluctant to cooperate with a Vatican inquiry into the state of religious life in this country today, relatively little has been said about the sisters who support it.
<snip>
That’s, in part, because some sisters have been told not to talk about it, or feel intimidated enough by their leadership that they keep their thoughts to themselves, even within their own communities, said Ann Carey, who moderates a Web discussion group that helps such sisters find their voice.
One sister’s message on the Yahoo group reads in part, "Though we are by no means in the minority (and are, perhaps, even a silent majority) we are not the ones with power, so our concerns go unheeded. Apostolic religious life certainly needs a ‘shot in the arm’ from the Vatican or whoever else may be able to get us back on track."
Another sister’s message urges women religious who are afraid or unhappy to get in touch with Mother Clare’s office:
"Ann’s forum is a great first step. Meeting each other for support is a possible second step. But the most important is letting the right people know that something good has become dysfunctional at best. That we have been silent too long and that must no longer be the case."
Mrs. Carey wrote in her e-mail that a former president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR, which represents more than 90 percent of American women religious), had sent her an e-mail on Jan. 6 saying that the Yahoo group is divisive and that perhaps Mrs. Carey should rethink its existence.
"It’s hard to imagine how anyone could be divisive by supporting an initiative of the Holy See, but some sister leaders use that term for anyone who disagrees with them," she wrote.
We need a Theresa of Avila. If a saint stands up now and proverbially punches the LCWR in the face, they will scatter like the cowards they are. Gone unchecked they will continue to spiral into self-destructive heresy and they will drag their orders down with them.
Posted by: Thomas | Monday, February 08, 2010 at 02:15 PM
For sisters who do not wish to remain canonical, it seems that the honest and honorable thing to do would be to depart their religious orders.
These sisters are being advised by dissenting priests/canon lawyers they won't depart unless they can take the assets of the community with them.
If the majority of communities won't cooperate the Visitation is dead in the water.
Posted by: Norah | Monday, February 08, 2010 at 03:08 PM
There is no doubt many of the women religious institutions that have been 'taken' by feminists feel compelled to use whatever subterfuge to avoid being 'exposed'. This Roman Visit is utterly dangerous for them and no doubt they will continue to utilize any force to expand their control.
Posted by: Manuel G. Daugherty Razetto | Monday, February 08, 2010 at 04:49 PM