American nuns resist Vatican rebuke

[rug]

By Cara Matthews, The (Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News
Updated 1h 15m ago

OSSINING, N.Y. – As the Vatican accuses American nuns of spending too much time on human rights and helping the poor, some Catholic activists who support them are organizing vigils and petitions to persuade the church to change its mind.

"With the sisters, they've worked their fingers to the bone. They deserve more than this," said Eileen Sammon, a parishioner at St. Ann's Church here and a former Dominican nun. "They're like a helicopter hierarchy hovering over the sisters instead of cleaning their own house," referring to the continuing problem of priests' sexual abuse of children.

Sammon is organizing a prayer vigil Tuesday in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan with the hope that Cardinal Timothy Dolan will contact the Vatican and ask to have the reprimand rescinded.

Fifty-six years ago, the Vatican's Congregation for Religious asked Catholic nuns in the United States to create a national conference. The organization, now called the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, is a unified voice for sisters across the country who aid the poor, nurse the sick, perform missionary work in developing nations, educate students and advocate against violence.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2012-05-21/catholic-nuns-america-vatican/55117584/1

[cbayer]

1. Too much time on human rights and helping the poor?

No wonder they are coming down so hard on them.

Good for those who are standing up for the nuns.

[meow2u3]

2. Helicopter hierarchy--BWAHAHAHA!

No wonder they're resisting. They're calling the boys out on their hypocrisy in light of the sexual abuse scandal. They must know who was behind the crackdown.

In other words, pot, meet kettle.

[monmouth]

3. Cardinal Dolan won't do it. He wants to be fast-tracked to the papacy...n/t

[longship]

4. "The Missionary Position" by Christopher Hitchens

I confess that I have not read this pamphlet, but have heard Hitchens speak of it many times via his compendious audio Internet presence. Unfortunately, I just haven't gotten around to it.

But, it seems to me that the Vatican's view of the sisters is similar to Hitchens' story of Mother Teresa, and the (now) outlaw nuns are the ones who really understand what Jesus really taught.

As a long time atheist, just saying. Could any society survive the Sermon on the Mount?

[brooklynite]

5. I don't understand why...

I agree that the Vatican's attack is immoral, but if you buy into the Church and it's guidance that the Pope is infallible, what's your basis for challenging that authority?

[rug]

6. Papal infallibility is quite limited.

It doesn't extend to federal regulations.

[Goblinmonger]

8. 3 elements

He has to be speaking as the pope, to Catholics as a whole, about matters of faith. If he is, then he is infallible. Him telling these Catholics that these nuns are not following the faith would most likely fall into that realm.

[rug]

9. That's basically correct but this is more a matter of discipline than faith.

"The group, which includes about 80% of all Catholic sisters in the United States, is now being accused of focusing too much time and energy on social justice issues and not enough promoting the teachings of the church on right to life, human sexuality and other issues."

The other required element is that he must be speaking ex cathedra, which he has not done here. As you know, infallible pronouncements are quite rare. I believe there have been only three explicit infallible papal pronouncements, ironically al concerning Mary.

[brooklynite]

7. ...but if I'm a Nun...

...I'm forgoing Federal protection for "God's Will"