Women religious visitations to begin in April

Why are religious MEN on the team visiting the women's congregations????
Not only is this whole investigation disrespectful of the nuns, but having men complicit in the scrutiny is demeaning.

Let us all pray that these visitis will strengthen the religious communities obedience to God and the Holy See.

so
who pays for the doughnuts
and the Holiday Inn
and the rent-a-limos?
and the long liturgical garb?

In regard to men from Religious Communities being on the visitation teams: this IS a very good question!

Again I ask.... Since numbers of men in seminary are down, why are they also not under investigation?

Where is God in all of this? Is this the work of the Holy Spirit or the mean spirit of this world? Isn't this just more of the same old infighting dedicated to building and maintaining an institution that can comfortably be controlled? What would Jesus say to all of this? Far too many of the faithful - young and old alike - after years of connection to the Church STILL do not have any better relationship, knowledge or understanding of the mysteries of God and life upon which to anchor their ship of life.

I see the visitation as an effort to strengthen the bonds of communion between American women's congregations with the universal Church and the Vicar of Peter. As a priest who has lived and worked in Africa and Europe in the last 22 years, there is much that is exceptional in the lives of many American religious women compared to their counterparts in the rest of the world. For one thing, the mere fact that so many women religious live alone and not in community seems contradictory to the whole nature of religious life and yet this has been an almost accepted practice in the U.S.

Let us not forget that many years ago most of the American congregations requested and obtained pontifical status. I fail to see how the Holy See's conducting of a visitation is immoral.

We men have already experienced one visitation--the visitation of our seminaries and religious houses.

I am confident that some good can come out of all this.

Honestly, I'm quite tired of the whole thing. Sister Claire and the hierarchical church are going to give it a positive spin, but we all know that the congregations they choose to visit will be those whose constitutions are either not approved by the Holy See, or are not seen as living up to the Holy See's expectations. OH, there may be a few of the conservative ones visited just to make it look good, but it's all about those orders that are "disobedient" to the hierarchy. Why can the hierarchy not accept change? Religious women are simply filling another need in the Catholic church. Why can't they each do it in their own way? No, instead, all must walk the straight and narrow.

YES, why are there men on the visitation team? Do women religious make inquisitive visits to men's communities? Perhaps one way to quietly get rid of the men is for the visited community to "go into executive session" and ask the men to step outside and/or recuse themselves.

Personally I would be embarrassed to be part of such a team. . .when I ought to be doing some much needed work!

frNCD

Love your comment Frere Charles, with the world is such a sad state, people having difficultyin their daily lives, it seems such a useless use of money. Better to give it to the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

NCR can do a great service by identifying and publishing the dates, times and locations of each of these visits. I would be more than happy to join a legal but loud and boisterous picket line at each visitation. It's about time the People of God start telling the Vatican troglodytes to stop this new Inquisition.

from what I already know, the religious communities being investigated will be acting in a very professional and careful manner. And who is paying for this? Has the Vatican thought about bake sales and car washes? AT the Vatican, I mean.

God bless the graciousness of the Sisters who are visited.............

How did the men get involved?

Still curious why Mother Clare hasn't said how the congregations will be chosen. Makes me wonder???? What is their criteria? It would be more transparent if she or the Vatican would be more forth coming with this information.

As far as I'm concerned this will probably be an exercise in futility. What will Rome do with the report--dismiss all those congregations that don't measure up?

The Church needs to deal with the real problems of the world. How about spend all the money for this study on Haiti...and dismiss this investigation!

Are they bringing along their own supply of altar boys, or will the locals have to supply them?

For whom are the religous orders of women "challenges"? If by "challenge" is meant that they have "raised the bar" in Christian living and action, I applaud them and urge them to continue their commitment to the peace, love and justice of God's people. I am more concerned about the bar that has been razed, a process of destruction in lieu of instruction.

Alex, one must be careful about scripture quotes, don't you think? Apart from all the vitriol that this discussion is generating, wouldn't it be wonderful if the idea of "neither male nor female" applied as it sounds that it was meant to apply? A equality and mutuality of members of the Body of Christ? And a mutuality of leadership and accountability? Women religious, in this case, are being held to accountability in a rather extreme way. Our brothers in ministry, the clergy and in particular the episcopacy seem quite exceptional in this regard. . . The assumption of some of the respondents seems to be that there is sufficient evidence throughout this country that such an investigation is warranted for all women religious. Who could possibly believe such a thing?! I know many religious and have known more over the years who have such deep commitment to their calling and such generosity of heart - and have been nearly heroic in their commitment to the Gospel and the search for its guidance and Spirit! These allegations and innuendos must be deeply painful and demeaning. Is that what we wish for these women? I, for one, surely do not.

Instead of tithing I've been donating to the Congregation of sisters of my choice. I am so glad for it too. I am praying for the sisters.

I agree with so many of the replies.
The defense and protection of the patriarchy's POWER over women in so many forms is one of the greatest sins. So who should go to confession? It has been going on for centuries. It is so strongly established that it has become invisible to the men, but felt strongly by women. Many men - some women -take it so for granted that they wonder why women object !

The 'people of God' need not worry too much about these visitations. My understanding is that Religious Sisters (i.e. non-ordained) take a vow of obedience to God, not the Holy See. Of course that does not mean that any religious order of non-ordained nuns would prefer to be unsupportive of the Holy See, just that non-ordained religious sisters are obedient to God and see quite prophetically what God is teaching them through their lived experiences in service to the 'people of God'.

For my money, it is the Vatican that has the problem that needs to be investigated for failing to give leadership to the 'people of God'.

David Mapstone
Australia

I encourage the religious orders and congregations of women to boycott the visitations from the Vatican. Instead give them a one way ticket to those coming from the Vatican's inquisitions to go and help the earthquake victims of Haiti. Push them to bring you a report on the situation in Haiti, and then let them into your places. Unless they agree with it don't let them in. Give them such a requierement and then you will see the truth about the famous visitation in the USA from the Vatican girls.

I really felt so disgusted with this "Apostolic Visitation". It must be so draining also for our sisters in the United States. Sisters, we are one with you in our prayers and in our spirit. We are far in a country but our support with you is so near, so very near. We love you. Keep the light shining.

Dismiss this insane investigation!! Benedict and his group do not need another nail in their senseless legacy.

When will the Vatican announce an equally thorough, secretive and prejudgmental investigation of the Bishops and the Curia as well??

After all, it is the actions of mostly top-level Hierarchs that have cost the Church literally billions of wasted dollars in embezzlements, footdragging and widespread conspiracies to obstruct justice and charity for the less powerful members of the Church, etc....

"What good is driving out 1 devil if 7 more take his place?"

I wish to repeat the request above: Please give us a schedule of the times/places of the visitations. I want to be at the gate with a sign CURIA GO HOME

Watching Keystone Cops...
How is it, in a church that claims to be "The Church of Peter and Paul" that Canon Law is more often quoted than scriptural Canonicity? How can there be a legitimate/valid explanation for patriarchy? And can we actually be having some of the discussions that have come up in the posts relating to this inquisition of women's religious communities while still believing that Galatians 3:28 is a viable part of the Canon of scripture?
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
As I read through the responses it's hard to believe that they are written by supposed Christians.