The immediate past leader of the main group of U.S. Catholic sisters is to receive an honorary doctorate from Jesuit-run Fairfield University.
Sr. Pat Farrell, the past president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws at the Connecticut institution's annual commencement, the university announced Friday.
A Franciscan who spent two decades in Latin America before heading the sisters’ group, Farrell was at its helm when the Vatican issued a sharp criticism of LCWR last April and ordered it to place itself under the control of three U.S. bishops.
Sr. Maureen Clark, a member of the Congregation of Sr. Joseph who has spent 39 years working in state correctional systems, will also be receiving an honorary degree at the Fairfield commencement ceremonies.