USA Nuns from a distance - The Leadership Conference for Women Religious today.
Nearly 900 Roman Catholic nuns will gather in St. Louis this week to discuss their future relationship with the Vatican.
Ordinarily, this annual assembly of the country's largest umbrella group for women's religious communities wouldn't draw the attention of the world's press. But in the spring, the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog office issued a report that questioned the organization's fidelity to some church teachings, accused it of "serious doctrinal problems" and announced that three U.S. bishops would temporarily take the group's reins in order to reform it.
In her LCWR keynote address in 1997, Sister Sandra Schneiders, IHM proposed that the decisive issue for women religious is the issue of faith: “It can no longer be taken for granted that the members [of a given congregation] share the same faith.”
Ten years later, in an LCWR keynote speech, Sister Laurie Brink, O.P. spoke of “four different general ‘directions’ in which religious congregations seem to be moving.” She said that “not one of the four is better or worse than the others.” One of the directions described is “sojourning,” which she says “involves moving beyond the Church, even beyond Jesus. A sojourning congregation is no longer ecclesiastical. It has grown beyond the bounds of institutional religion.” This kind of congregation “in most respects is Post-Christian.” She concludes by characterizing as “a choice of integrity, insight and courage” the decision to “step outside the Church” already made by one group of women religious.
Father Michael H. Crosby, OFMCap, a keynote speaker at the joint LCWR-CMSM assembly in 2004, lamented the fact that “we still have to worship a God that the Vatican says ‘wills that women not be ordained.’ That god is literally ‘unbelievable.’ It is a false god; it cannot be worshiped. And the prophet must speak truth to that power and be willing to accept the consequence of calling for justice, stopping the violence and bringing about the reign of God.”
The LCWR’s Systems Thinking Handbook describes a hypothetical case in which sisters differ over whether the Eucharist should be at the center of a special community celebration. The problem is that some of the sisters object to “priest-led liturgies.”
The scenario, it seems, is not simply fictitious, for some LCWR speakers also mention the difficulty of finding ways to worship together as a faith community.
According to the Systems Thinking Handbook this difficulty is rooted in differences at the level of belief, but also different mental models — the “Western mind” and the
“Organic mental model.” These, rather than Church doctrine, are offered as tools for the resolution of the case.
LCWR speakers also explore themes like global spirituality, the new cosmology, earth-justice and eco-feminism in ways that are frequently ambiguous, dubious or even erroneous with respect to Christian faith.
And while the LCWR upholds Catholic social teaching in some areas, it is notably silent when it comes to two of the major moral challenges of our time: the right to life of the unborn, and the God-given meaning of marriage between one man and one woman.
Are these examples indicative of the thinking of all religious sisters in the United States whose communities are members of the LCWR? Certainly not.
Serious questions of faith undoubtedly arise among some women religious, as the LCWR maintains. However, is it the role of a pontifically recognized leadership group to criticize and undermine faith in church teaching by what is said and unsaid, or rather to work to create greater understanding and acceptance of what the Church believes and teaches?
Those who do not hold the teachings of the Catholic Church, or Catholics who dissent from those teachings, are quick to attack the CDF and bishops for taking the LCWR to task. However, a person who holds the reasonable view that a Catholic is someone who subscribes to the teachings of the Catholic Church will recognize that the Catholic bishops have a legitimate cause for doctrinal concern about the activities of the LCWR, as evidenced by a number of its speakers and some of its resource documents.
A key question posed by the doctrinal assessment had to do with moving forward in a positive way. Would the LCWR at least acknowledge the CDF’s doctrinal concerns and be willing to take steps to remedy the situation?
The response thus far is exemplified by the LCWR leadership’s choice of a New Age Futurist to address its 2012 assembly, and their decision to give an award this year to Sister Sandra Schneiders, who has expressed the view that the hierarchical structure of the church represents an institutionalized form of patriarchal domination that cannot be reconciled with the Gospel.
This situation is now a source of controversy and misunderstanding, as well as misrepresentation. I am confident, however, that if the serious concerns of the CDF are accurately represented and discussed among all the sisters of our country, there will indeed be an opening to a new and positive relationship between women religious and the Church’s pastors in doctrinal matters, as there already is in so many other areas where mutual respect and cooperation abound.
Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair
Bishop of Toledo
June 8, 2012
May God bless you!
From that article:
Ten years later, in an LCWR keynote speech, Sister Laurie Brink, O.P. spoke of “four different general ‘directions’ in which religious congregations seem to be moving.” She said that “not one of the four is better or worse than the others.” One of the directions described is “sojourning,” which she says “involves moving beyond the Church, even beyond Jesus. A sojourning congregation is no longer ecclesiastical. It has grown beyond the bounds of institutional religion.” This kind of congregation “in most respects is Post-Christian.” She concludes by characterizing as “a choice of integrity, insight and courage” the decision to “step outside the Church” already made by one group of women religious.
What is in the world does "moving beyond Jesus" mean??
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.(Galatians 2:20)
From that article:
Ten years later, in an LCWR keynote speech, Sister Laurie Brink, O.P. spoke of “four different general ‘directions’ in which religious congregations seem to be moving.” She said that “not one of the four is better or worse than the others.” One of the directions described is “sojourning,” which she says “involves moving beyond the Church, even beyond Jesus. A sojourning congregation is no longer ecclesiastical. It has grown beyond the bounds of institutional religion.” This kind of congregation “in most respects is Post-Christian.” She concludes by characterizing as “a choice of integrity, insight and courage” the decision to “step outside the Church” already made by one group of women religious.
What is in the world does "moving beyond Jesus" mean??
Teaching a false gospel. Not needing Jesus or His Church. Many paths. Scripture warns of this.
__________________ Your socks stink.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. dir="ltr">
“Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.”
Teaching a false gospel. Not needing Jesus or His Church. Many paths. Scripture warns of this.
Like this scripture:
1 John 2:22
22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.
and
2 John 1:7
7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.(Galatians 2:20)
National Catholic Reporter wrote about the meeting today. They said that Archbishop Carlson opened the meeting, prayed with the sisters, and made remarks that built bridges rather than erected walls. He was warm and conciliatory.
The article also said that their leaders would meet with Archbishop Sartain afterwards.
This is how a group like the LCWR behaves. The leadership is not hierarchical. It does not speak for its members until all of its members have had an opportunity to be speaked and, yes, listened to (what a novel idea!)
After everyone's concerns and feelings are heard and respectfully acknowledged, the LCWR will speak with Archbishop Sartain.
What a wonderful model of collaborative, respectful, inclusive government the LCWR is presenting to the Church!
I sincerely hope that the good example they are presenting to the Church will result in the Church's being respectful, inclusive, listening, and collaborative with them.
It is what they deserve (and what every Catholic deserves).
Like this scripture:
1 John 2:22
22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.
and
2 John 1:7
7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
Amen. Pray they see the light.
__________________ Your socks stink.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. dir="ltr">
“Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.”
National Catholic Reporter wrote about the meeting today. They said that Archbishop Carlson opened the meeting, prayed with the sisters, and made remarks that built bridges rather than erected walls. He was warm and conciliatory.
The article also said that their leaders would meet with Archbishop Sartain afterwards.
This is how a group like the LCWR behaves. The leadership is not hierarchical. It does not speak for its members until all of its members have had an opportunity to be speaked and, yes, listened to (what a novel idea!)
After everyone's concerns and feelings are heard and respectfully acknowledged, the LCWR will speak with Archbishop Sartain.
What a wonderful model of collaborative, respectful, inclusive government the LCWR is presenting to the Church!
I sincerely hope that the good example they are presenting to the Church will result in the Church's being respectful, inclusive, listening, and collaborative with them.
It is what they deserve (and what every Catholic deserves).
Well when it comes to the teachings of the Church & the vows they made... it up to these women to collaborate. Because all of that is set in stone unless they want to become a member of the Unitarian Church. Which basically teaches the same thing these women seem to embrace.
__________________ Your socks stink.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. dir="ltr">
“Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.”
Like this scripture:
1 John 2:22
22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.
and
2 John 1:7
7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
Wow, talk about putting words into the sisters' mouths! "Denying that Jesus is the Christ" may be grist for the rumor mill....
And those who spread rumors need to read the Epistle of James on the dangers of the tongue--they certainly need it more than 1 John.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Wow, talk about putting words into the sisters' mouths! "Denying that Jesus is the Christ" may be grist for the rumor mill....
And those who spread rumors need to read the Epistle of James on the dangers of the tongue--they certainly need it more than 1 John.
Then what do they mean by "moving beyond Jesus"? How do you move beyond God?
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.(Galatians 2:20)
USA Nuns from a distance - The Leadership Conference for Women Religious today. 
Linear Mode
