I’m not talking about the disappearance of the habits, nor am
I talking about the tremendous loss of vocations – I’m talking about the
defiance of the leadership of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious
(LCWR) of the mandate of reform imposed by the Vatican Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith. Imagine that. These sisters are so far off that the
Vatican had to step in. But guess what? These same sisters have refused any
iota of reform.
All of us love the sisters who devote their lives to Christ’s
mission and service. Our minds and memories are filled with many lovely
memories. But today, their leadership is so liberal (and that is an insufficient
label) that they have gone beyond the pall so long and so far as to defy the
Vatican.
I believe most of these ladies are Franciscan. Do they not
have in their Rule to love and be faithful to the Pope and Magisterium as
Francis was? What happened to their vows of humility, discipline, obedience?
And what about the LCWRs membership? If I was a member, I would withdraw so
fast my head would spin. Their inaction is a confirmation of their agreement
with their leadership.
They are so consumed in their agenda that they are willing to
separate themselves from canonical status and form a separate organization
according to an article in the National Catholic Register dated 9/8/2013 .
I believe this is a major factor in the continuing loss of
vocations. Imagine a young woman loving Christ, filled with love to serve,
religious, prayerful. She explores how she may serve more faithfully (note
faithfully) and she runs across these defiant, liberal, self-consumed women.
Ah, no thanks, she will say, and walk away. You cannot love yourself, dear
ladies, and God. You cannot serve the Church by defying it.
Am I going too strong against these ladies? I think not. I
have read the mandate. It is available on the internet. These are serious
things. Yet these sisters are ignoring it. Here is a sampling: “’corporate
dissent,’ ‘serious theological, even doctrinal errors,’ ‘various theological
interpretations that risk distorting faith in Jesus and his loving Father’ and
commentaries that ‘undermine the revealed doctrines of the Holy Trinity, the
divinity of Christ and the inspiration of sacred Scripture.’” As reported in
the article cited above, and in reading the mandate myself. The mandate can be
seen here: http://www.usccb.org/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=55544
In June of 2012 I wrote an open letter entitled: “An Open
Letter to My Brothers of the Franciscan First Order and to My Sisters in the
Third Order Regular” which can be read here: http://tomsfo1.blogspot.com/2012/06/open-letter-to-my-brothers-of.html
in which I expressed my disappointments after I learned that the leadership of
the First Order sent a press release in support of the LCWR. I told them how
very scandalized I felt.
So a year later these sisters are still standing firm with
their arms crossed before them in defiance of the Vatican, not making even the
smallest concession like taking down their “Systems Thinking Handbook” from
their website which the mandate directed be withdrawn pending revision.
I will continue to pray for these women as I do all
religious. Because the direction they are taking is putting their very souls in
danger. My faith calls me to correct my brothers and sisters when I see they
error. The Vatican has attempted the same. It is now time for them to turn, metanoia.
2 comments:
I, too, pray for their reversion. I wonder how long before the Vatican acts again?
-Lou
I would say that the Vatican works very slowly. Time is on their side. But the LCWR has gone too far, so the Vatican had to step in. I'm not sure about Pope Francis. I think he will be more moderate than Benedict.
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