"Our truth"

The LCWR, the Vatican visitation, and weird religious life.

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"This will be an opportunity to be who we are and to speak our truth, not to back away from that, and to understand what our common response will be," she said. "It's a good chance for the sisters to be honest and to tell the story of who we are without fear." - Sr. J. Lora Dambroski - LCWR President

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While "we don't want to be in a defensive posture," said Sr. Dambroski, "we have to clearly be who we are." - Source

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Just who feminist women religious are is hard to pin down - they are a decidedly unorthodox bunch. Most have long abandoned habits and convents and live pretty much like any other lay person. Except they are often highly educated, well traveled for study and pleasure, well heeled - albeit not fashionable, and fiercely independent - all financed by the congregation. Some of the oddities associated with these groups range from New Age spirituality to advocating for women's ordination. A special irony considering some of the congregations accept males as associate members, who also promote women's ordination - so we have the prospect of women priests and male nuns. (Who said homosexuality has nothing to do with gender identity difficulties?)

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Don't call us nuns.

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Members of the LCWR have made it clear they are not nuns - but sisters. That is indeed true, although Americans think all women religious are nuns. At least the group is honest and since they are intent upon revealing to the Vatican "their truth" and who they really are - hopefully something can be done about it. But will it? Cokie Roberts is the conference's celebrity guest, and I'm quite certain she sums up the agenda of the LCWR and it's confrontation with the Vatican visitation.

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"While American Catholic sisters continue to undergo scrutiny from a Vatican investigation, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) invited Cokie Roberts, a political commentator who has criticized the Church's prohibition against abortion, contraception, and homosexuality, as the keynote speaker for their annual meeting this week. Another Catholic group, Supporting Our Aging Religious (SOAR), has announced it will host a dinner in honor of Roberts and her husband Steve in November of this year.

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In a 2006 column, Roberts also ridiculed bishops who proclaim the Catholic Church's teaching against contraception and homosexuality. "It's as if they are asking to be ignored," she wrote." - Source

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To be fair, in our day when inconsistency seems to be the rule, it would indeed be unfair to say that all women religious of the LCWR happen to be radical feminists and oppose Catholic teaching on issues such as abortion, contraception, and homosexuality - one hopes that is not the case. Nevertheless, as with the Obama debacle at Notre Dame, one questions the propriety of having a pro-choice Catholic speak at the conference. It does suggest a disconnect from the religious obedience which should characterize Catholic religious congregations.

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"I can't say that in any organization, members all are of the same mindset," Dambroski said Tuesday. "But I would say these are all faithful women, all of them; I can say that without hesitation. We love this church. We gave our lives through this church to our brothers and sisters." - Source

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I think I understand better why some people want to live as hermits or start their own religious community in keeping with traditional Roman Catholic doctrine.