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PDF versionEuropean women religious send warm support to U.S. sisters
by Thomas C. Fox on Dec. 15, 2009
A number of U.S. women religious in leadership positions have received the following letter, which originated at the Continental Assembly of European women religious earlier this month. U.S. women religious have already received words of support, during this trying time of an Apostolic Visitation, from women religious leaders in Rome and in Asia.
This new letter to the U.S. women reads as follows:
Dear Sisters,
These days of December 2009 the Continental Assembly of Europe has gathered for its annual meeting in Spain. Among us were the team from Rome, the European Continental team and the provincial teams of Europe, as well as the European representatives of the intercontinental Commissions Economy and of Justice and Peace.
At one point in the agenda, we were told that LCWR and the apostolic institutes of religious women in the United States are being "visited" in order to analyze the quality of religious life in this country. The initiative came from the cardinal Franc Rodé, C.M., prefect of the Congregation for institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life. It was mentioned that Cardenal Rode had chosen Mother Mary Clare Millea, superior general of the Apóstolas of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to carry out the task.
Our European Assembly would like to communicate to the Sisters of the U.S. conference our sadness by this decision of the institutional church; the lack of trust, it’s tone of inquisition against women and the apparent refusal to dialogue.
At the same time we want to send our love and support for religious in the United States who continue being the presence of a human and merciful God, the One always at the side on the poor and disenfranchised. We unite in prayer that the Church open new horizons: more evangelical, more universal, more suited to the times we are living. May she be open to a dialogue for peace, justice, life and the dignity of all.
On this II of advent Sunday Eucharist, we read this poem of Benedetti. May it give you light:
Opening doors,
removing the locks,
leaving behind the walls which protected us,
live life and accept the challenge,
retrieve laughter,
practice the singing,
extend hands, open wings and try again
celebrate life
and return to the open sky.
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Do not give up, please do not yield:
Although the cold burns, although fear bites,
Although the Sun goes down and the wind goes silent,
there is still fire in your soul,
there is still life in your dreams
every day is new,
because this is the moment
because you are not alone
because (we) love you.
Please receive our most fervent solidarity and our sisterly affection.
December 8, 2009
If there's nothing to hide
If there's nothing to hide then obedience is not inappropriate....
Thank you, Sisters. Your
Thank you, Sisters. Your support and encouragement means the world to us.
Apparently European women
Apparently European women religious need to be investigated too. And Asian women religious are showing suspicious signs as well. Let's see how the Eastern European and Latin American women do. This thing sould really snow ball.
Do sisters make judgments on
Do sisters make judgments on your life, Angie? No, it would be totally inappropriate. It is also inappropriate for you to do the same. And why such underlying anger?
A spirit of inquisition
A spirit of inquisition against women? Are these people serious? Given the lives of comfort and ease that the majority of religious in the US lead, it should be no surprise that they are to be subject to a visitation. It's just a shame that it won't end in the suppression of a few religious houses. They should get real and get poor!
It is mischievous of you, to
It is mischievous of you, to say the least, to present this as a letter from some "Continental Assembly of European women religious", when it is a letter from ONE order, the Carmelite Sisters of Charity (Vedrunas), who - given their own published priorities - might well themselves merit the none too kind attention of Cardinal Rode.
The Sisters would do well to
The Sisters would do well to meditate some more on Obedience...which is a watchword and credo in most religious orders, at least on paper it is. Sadly, the reality is more often than not one of Heterodoxy and Belligerence. This is a sad development, and letters such as this only reinforce why this visitation is necessary.
D.B. on Dec. 15, 2009. You
D.B. on Dec. 15, 2009.
You stated:
"The Sisters would do well to meditate some more on Obedience...which is a watchword and credo in most religious orders, at least on paper it is. Sadly, the reality is more often than not one of Heterodoxy and Belligerence. This is a sad development, and letters such as this only reinforce why this visitation is necessary."
--------------------------------------
Oh, only WOMEN need to be obedient---not the men. Certainly, not the Pope and Magisterium who have committed CRIMES against humanity. Women religious in the United States are being investigated because they:
1) 'Went too far in implementing the concepts of Vatican II'. Meanwhile, this Pope and his cronnies are doing everything imaginable to kill anything from Vatican II (new liturgy coming out that is a bastardization of the Latin (which is a dead language in the first place)is just one example).
2) 'Aren't obedient'. JP II and Benedict appointed many of the current Bishops and Cardinals. Yet, when the sexual abuse scandals hit one country after another---these men did everything possible to wiggle out of their ultimate responsibility in appointing these criminals to such high posts. The Holy See not only is a world-wide church, but also is a sovereign state. There is currently a strong group in Ireland, in the wake of the Irish sexual abuse scandal, that is pushing for a UN resolution to condemn the Vatican for its tolerance and cover-ups by so many high ranking officials within the church. Furthermore, other groups are trying to sue the Vatican---and remove its "immunity" from legal actions against it.
If the Pope, Cardinals, Arch/bishops can be this blaze about their responsibilities to humanity---who are they to pursue the Religious Women in America for their 'transgressions'. If the official Church wants obedience---it should frist demonstrate obedience and humility itself.
Here again is another of
Here again is another of those terribly disheartening stories of rebellion and resistance by the women religious. After the last one I read here, I wrote that it had caused me to question whether I should continue giving to the Retirement Fund for Religious since I did not want to fund scandal (and make no mistake, that is exactly what these religous women are producing). Yet, I could not see how a person could look upon the legitimate needs of the aged and not be moved to charity.
Guess what? This past Sunday was the collection for the Retiremen Fund for Religious. And the Gosepl reading?
The crowds asked John the Baptist,
“What should we do?”
He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks
should share with the person who has none.
And whoever has food should do likewise.”
I gave to the Fund as usual. I do wish the religious women could understand the difficulties their defiance thrusts upon lay folks like me. Perhaps a sister who reads this will pass the news around.
GO SISTERS GO
GO SISTERS GO
The American Sisters are the
The American Sisters are the best models of Christian living in the U.S. My money's on them.
As I read the comments
As I read the comments written at the end of these articles my heart is so saddened by the judgment I read, things like "if they have nothing to hid", "be obedient", "I wonder if I should keep giving to the religious retirement fund." What hurtful comments - rubbing salt in already deep wounds. How can people who do not live as we do judge with such anger? I do not judge your life PLEASE do not judge mine. It is a hurtful slap in the face to the many generations of women and men religious who have given so much and have asked for so little in return.
To those who send words of support and 0ffer their prayers, I send you in return my prayers and blessings. As to the others, I send the warning given by Jesus in the Gospel about throwing stones.
It strikes me the Sisters
It strikes me the Sisters have multiple reasons and every right to be suspicious of and question the motivations of the Vatican. The Sisters allegiance must of necessity be focused on their Charter and not some Cardinal or Pope's theology or politics. It is their responsibility, not the Pope's, to ensure they are true to their mission.
It's hard to understand the depth of anger, hostility and self rightousness contained in many of the posted messages-perhaps they live in a different world and never falter in their quest to live Christ's example. In any event they do not reflect my understanding of Christ's message.
I believe there are many who stand with the Sisters in their objections and am proud to count myself as one
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