Leader of the LCWR speaks out...

The head of the LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious), Sr. Pat Farrell spoke out yesterday on NPR.

What do you think? What do you think of the logic she gives on pro-life issues?

http://www.npr.org/2012/07/17/156858223/an-american-nun-responds-to-vatican-condemnation

Comments

"Church teaching can't remain static, and really needs to be reformulated."

She's saying this directly to the Apostolic See, mind you, in response to their reform.
Anonymous said…
She has been seduced by secularism. Her morals are more influenced by the world than the gospel. Her use of the phrase 'pro-fetus' is scary. Serving people and their worldly needs without putting God first is doomed to failure and can be very dangerous. She should take care she gets her priorities straight.
Lindsey said…
I think out of everything in the article, the thing that struck me most was this..
'In their own statement, the nuns said the Vatican's doctrinal assessment of the group...may "compromise" the ability of female nuns to "fulfill their mission."' The rest of the article in a sense reflects the fear of compromising their "mission." You sense it in her comments regarding women's roles in the Church and how she seems to have this view of women being oppressed by the Church.

How heartbreaking to see that the "mission" of these nuns is defined by their work, their apostolate. While that is essential in the world today and the Sisters do much good there, we can't lose sight of the reality that the identity of religious is not defined by their ministry. Their identity lies in their espousal to Christ, to being His bride and witnessing that union with their community, to the world.

Regarding what she said when asked about women's ordination.. "Because our deep desire for places of leadership of women in the church be open. It remains a desire." How beautiful the day will be she realizes that the church's stance on ordination is not to oppress women or diminish their gifts. That that "place" is essentially open in a different way through her ability to work with the poor and the marginalized. She may be the only face of the Church they see. When there's security in my identity in Christ, we begin to see that the life we live, who we are as women, & she specifically as a consecrated religious, has the potential to change the world.

If there were one thing that I could say to her.. it would be the words from Vita Consecrata #16..
"It is the duty of the consecrated life to show that the Incarnate Son of God is the eschatological goal towards which all things tend, the splendour before which every other light pales, and the infinite beauty which alone can fully satisfy the human heart."

Our Lady, pray for us.
Jimmy the Open Minded and Objective said…
I struggle understanding what she was really saying about abortion. I agree with her that War, Hunger and Disease are also Right to Life issues. If the point is that these are lost in the focus on abortion I would tend to agree.

With the possible exception of choosing between the life of the baby and the life of the mother, I dont see any conflict between the Church's position on abortion and other right to life issues. So it is possible that her statements support the arguments for abortion being an option for social or financial reasons. If so, it is horrible to present that as the position of the Catholic community.

As for discipline I think it depends on the charter of the order and the vows and commitments. Some Orders clearly have chosen to submit to the discipline of the Bishops and should do so.

I was educated in the "Question Everything" philosophy of the Jesuits and Holy Cross fathers. So I think it is healthy to have a dialog and even diversity of opinion about the application of doctrine.

This is not a matter of Papal Infallibility. I am among those who is not comfortable with the Bishops bully tactics to surpress collegiality.

Lastly, I dont necessarily criticize Orders who have a different idea of their mission and vocation. But you have taught me to appreciate and respect the SOLT philosophy of traditional approach to a clerical life.

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