Rebellious Nuns Remain Rebellious

By Jeff Kunerth
Orlando Sentinel
August 19, 2013

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/blogs/religion-world/os-rebellious-nuns-remain-rebellous-20130819,0,3681087.post

Leadership Conference of Women Religious concluded their meeting in Orlando Monday no less defiant of the Vatican.

The LCWR, which represents about 43,000 American nuns, has been criticized by the Vatican for deviating from Catholic doctrine, including its positions on gays, women in the ministry, and the gender of God, who is sometimes referred to as "she."

The sisters, who represent about 43,000 American nuns, met several times with a representative from the Vatican during their convention in Orlando. Archbishop J. Peter Sartain was given five years in 2012 to bring the nuns in line with the strict teachings of the church.

On Monday, the LCWR issued a statement that said, "The session with Archbishop Sartain allowed a profound and honest sharing of views...The extraordinarily rich and deeply reverent conversation during the board meeting gave us a greater understanding of Archbishop Sartain, and we believe he now also better understands us..."

A spokeswoman with the LCWR would not elaborate other that to say there is a continuing dialog between the nuns and the archbishop. Ann Carey, author of Sisters in Crisis: The Tragic Unraveling of Women’s Religious Communities, said the nuns are continuing a holding pattern that avoids direct defiance of the Vatican while continuing to ignore orders to change.

“They’ve had difficulty with the Vatican for years,” said Carey. “The m.o. has been to dialog about it. As long as you are talking nothing happens.”

In the LCWR's press release, the nuns reaffirmed what it means to be faithful women of the church, including "faithful dissent" and the "the need for spaces where honest, probing questions about faith and belief can be raised and discussed.”

"It's a little bit of a declaration of independence," Carey said. "This is what we feel and how we intend to operate."

What's next in the standoff between the nuns and the Pope?

“The next step has not been determined,” said Sister Annmarie Sanders, director of communication for the LCWR.