Sisters react to Vatican investigations

News that the Vatican will conduct two investigations of women's religious communities in the United States is making secular headlines, including a front page story in today's New York Times that looks at what the move might mean for American nuns.

One sister featured in the story suggests that women religious should refuse to participate in the Apostolic Visitation and the doctrinal assessment of the Leadership Conference of Religious Women, fearing that the plan is to, among other things, require women religious in the United States to return to community life, "order their schedules around prayer" and work for Catholic organizations. It's somewhat sad that some sisters would feel such a request is so outrageous as to warrant a boycott. I kind of thought that's why women became religious sisters, to dedicate their lives to Christ by working for his Church, centering their lives on prayer, and living in community.

From the New York Times story:

“They think of us as an ecclesiastical work force,” said Sister Sandra M. Schneiders, professor emerita of New Testament and spirituality at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, in California. “Whereas we are religious, we’re living the life of total dedication to Christ, and out of that flows a profound concern for the good of all humanity. So our vision of our lives, and their vision of us as a work force, are just not on the same planet.”

Read the full story by clicking HERE.

Women religious have had such a profound impact on the life of the Church in the United States through the generations. Here's hoping the visitation is a source of renewal for them because the Church needs them -- their talents, their dedication, and their prayers.