Oh please.. you can't really look at any of those nuns and and call them "women" in that sense anyway. That's what cracks me up about feminist groups, femininity is no where to be found. There's nothing feminine about any of them. They look and act like a bunch of men and unattractive ones at that.
If you wore a habit from the time you were a young teen and then changed to lay dress, you would still adopt the modest, low-maintenance style of someone who was dedicating her life to God. Short, easy-to-style hair. No makeup. Modest clothing in subtle colors. What you call "looking like a bunch of men" is because they do not focus on their outward appearance and the latest styles.
The Vatican would not have stepped in and admonished this bunch of nuns if all the claims against them were gossip.
It appears as if they admonished an organization for something that happened in the past that no longer takes place--organizational support of women's ordination. The LCWR has said that it never supported women's ordination after an official position was taken.
Other than that, they admonished them for individual statements by individual sisters who were not elected leadership members. Considering what a woeful job the male clergy did in preventing its members from molesting children, I am shocked that they would try to hold the LCWR responsible for mere "statements" by its members, which, as we all know, pale next to the crimes and misdemeanors of pedophiles.
I took two semesters of theology in college--in the late 1960's. The blessing I received was that the friar who taught them loved life. He was a positive, affirming, grateful person. In other words, he was truly holy. I don't remember much else other than that he was a model of real Christianity--but that, obviously, was the most important lesson. But my friends who have taken theology say that, on higher levels, it is a tableaux for big ideas. It is not a narrow, constricted, stranglehold designed to prevent people from thinking (which is why I've never wanted to study it) but a mind-expanding exercise.
And, since most of the sisters at this level of leadership have probably studied theology on the graduate level, then I imagine a speaker like Barbara Marx Hubbard would be a good fit.
This is where I trust the Church because this is bigger then them, the men, even they can't screw this up, even though I know they probably tried.
Its where you see the keys coming into play. Its the doctrines that are protected. This Church, THE Church will never ever teach us something that is false in the name of The Church.
These nuns were obviously teaching error to the point the deposit of faith was being jeopardized, compromised and in need of protection. THAT is exactly what the pope's job is, to transmit, protect, enforce the faith.
I know you want change, Fantine but *T*ruth does not change and no, we didn't get it wrong either for 2000 years. It is what it is.
Respectfully, I think that's a gross exaggeration fueled by media hysteria.
I know you want progressiveness and women to be able to be men and choose and gays to get married and all that but as particular matters of the faith that Jesus taught us, these things is not what will save our souls. These things is what will make us happy while were here. What does it profit you to have the world and lose your soul? Not a whole lot...
I certainly don't want women to be able to be men. I think that the sexes are complementary. That is why when organizations are led exclusively by one sex they are unbalanced. We need the insights and talents and gifts of ALL our people in a complex, rapidly changing world.
I don't subscribe to the paint-by-number course for getting to heaven, that's true. I think we learn something from every experience, and that every experience can bring us to sanctity. I don't look at gay relationships as being "all bad." I think, "What happens in the other 23 hours and 40 minutes of the day? Do they love one another unconditionally? Do they support one another emotionally? Do they communicate well?" We all learn about God through the unconditional love of other people, if we are lucky, and so a gay couple may actually lead one another towards God. When I see people with skewed views of God, "smiting" and "coming with a sword" I pray that they will find some love in their lives.
So you and Silvo don't really love these people if you are willing to make it all about this life and not eternity. Its either you don't really love them because you are willing to sacrfice their souls for a little comfort in this world or you don't really believe in the after life... which is it?
