National Catholic Reporter

The Independent News Source

Sisters' Stories

Pope Francis expresses gratitude for global sisters, stresses obedience

by Joshua J. McElwee

Pope Francis told leaders of global orders of Catholic sisters that the lives of consecrated persons are a "light in the world."

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Sisters grasp the extended hand

by Thomas C. Fox

Commentary: The time Cardinal João Braz de Aviz spent with women religious is a sign of good intent and a step into greater communication.

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Global sisters' leader: Dialogue with Vatican is key

by Joshua J. McElwee

Q and A: Attempts by U.S. sisters to pursue dialogue with Vatican officials could strengthen relations with sisters globally.

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Vatican religious prefect: 'I was left out of LCWR finding'

by Joshua J. McElwee

The Vatican's decision to criticize the Leadership Conference of Women Religious was made without the knowledge of a key Vatican office, its leader said Sunday.

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Pope Francis reaffirms critique of LCWR, plan for reform

by Joshua J. McElwee

A year ago, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said the US sisters' work contained "themes incompatible with the Catholic faith." Pope Francis has reportedly reaffirmed the assessment.

by Joshua J. McElwee

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious is giving its highest honor to former president Sr. Pat Farrell, for leadership “through an exceptionally challenging time.”

Bishop against gay marriage tapped to reform LCWR

Jamie Manson | Apr. 18, 2012

The Vatican investigation into U.S. women religious, which began in 2009, is finally bearing its first toxic fruit.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced Wednesday it has named Seattle Archbishop Peter Sartain to lead a five-year reform of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). The reforms include a revision of the LCWR's statutes, a review of its programs (including, in all likelihood, Vatican approval of topics and speakers at their annual general assembly) and reviews of their liturgical norms and relationship with NETWORK, a Catholic social justice lobby.

Gates: Women need birth control on global health agenda

Thomas C. Fox | Apr. 5, 2012

In an address with potentially far-reaching health care consequences, Melinda Gates today called upon governments to set as goals universal access to birth control for women who want it. She said the measure could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year.

A Catholic, Gates is a co-chair and trustee of the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation, which distributes billions of dollars annually in the developing world to raise agricultural productivity, health care and education levels while it works to eradicate global diseases.

Ladies in White arrested before pope's Havana Mass

Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service | Mar. 28, 2012

HAVANA -- A few hours before they planned to attend an outdoor Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI, members of a Catholic dissident group were reportedly arrested by Cuban police.

Alejandrina Garcia de la Rivas and Laura Maria Labrada Pollan, members of the Ladies in White -- "Damas de Blanco" -- were arrested before 6 a.m. Wednesday, said Blanca Reyes, a member of the organization who now lives Madrid, Spain.

International Women's Day sees protests in the Philippines

N.J. Viehland | Mar. 12, 2012

MANILA, Philippines -- A September report in Newsweek declared, "In Asia, the Philippines is the best place to be a woman" to numerous publications in the country as well as to online news and social media sites.

And yet on Thursday, International Women's Day, Manila's streets filled up with thousands of women marching and rallying in protest alongside members of partner activist groups.

Letter requests explanation on women priests

Brian Roewe | Mar. 12, 2012

Saying he wants to promote a dialogue, an Augustinian priest has written an open letter to Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston and other U.S. bishops seeking clarity and a “credible theological explanation” of why women can’t be ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood.

Komen reverses decision, reinstates grants to Planned Parenthood

Catholic News Service | Feb. 3, 2012

DALLAS -- The Feb. 3 decision by Susan G. Komen for the Cure to reinstate grants to Planned Parenthood affiliates for breast cancer screenings was the result of a "vicious attack" on the organization, said a pro-life leader.

Catholics doubt study that says no mental health-abortion link

Simon Caldwell Catholic News Service | Dec. 14, 2011

MANCHESTER, England -- Catholic medical professionals have questioned the reliability of a British review concluding that women who have abortions have no increased risk of developing mental health problems.

The British government-funded "Systematic Review of Induced Abortion and Women's Mental Health" found that though an unwanted pregnancy may cause mental health problems, it made no difference to the mother's mental well-being if she continued with the pregnancy or had an abortion.

The review was carried out by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health at the Royal College of Psychiatry and published by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges in early December.

Dr. Roch Cantwell, a consultant perinatal psychiatrist who led the review, said the work showed "that abortion is not associated with an increase in mental health problems."

"Women who are carrying an unwanted pregnancy should be reassured that current evidence shows they are no more likely to experience mental health problems if they decide to have an abortion than if they decide to give birth," Cantwell said in a Dec. 9 statement.

HHS secretary says girls under 17 must consult doctors to get Plan B

Nancy Frazier O'Brien Catholic News Service | Dec. 9, 2011

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops' pro-life spokeswoman said she was relieved that the Obama administration has decided not to allow the Plan B One-Step "morning-after pill" to be sold without a prescription to those under 17.

"Luckily, things did not go from bad to even worse," Deirdre McQuade, assistant director for policy and communications at the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, told Catholic News Service Dec. 8. "We're pleased that they did not expand access to this very powerful drug."

Catholics protest altar server policy

Alice Popovici | Dec. 3, 2011

ARLINGTON, VA. -- A few dozen people walked along North Glebe Road in front of the Arlington diocesan headquarters Nov. 20, holding bright signs that called for justice and change.

“Pray for our diocese,” read one sign, handwritten on fluorescent pink cardboard. “Dignity for our girls,” said another. And another: “We support female altar servers.” And another: “Bishop we need your leadership.”

Author finds out just how much is expected of 'biblical' women

Lauren Markoe Religion News Service | Dec. 2, 2011

Living like a biblical woman, as Christian author Rachel Held Evans discovered, can be a real pain in thy rump.

That's especially the case during a woman's "unclean" time of the month, when sitting on any surface renders it unclean, and why Evans carried around a stadium seat cushion on those days as she attempted to live out a year as a true "biblical" woman.