FLORIDA
National Catholic Reporter
Thomas C. Fox | Aug. 13, 2013 NCR Today
ORLANDO, FLA. Leadership Conference of Women Religious members have begun to check in. Some 850 will be here.
Again, as a year ago, this LCWR assembly faces an very uncertain conclusion, and, one man, a prelate, Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, appointed by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to oversee LCWR, will largely determine the outcome.
To more than a few here this seems to be a major blunder, a huge waste of time and energy, and a distraction from the Gospel-focused mission of women religious congregations. It also seems to be an episode in a church anachronistically crippled in sexism.
A quick pulse of the women here, however, reveals not anger, but a curious sense of cautious hope, a belief the Spirit, in the end, will have her way.
Sartain is expected to speak for some 30 minutes Thursday afternoon in a room closed to outsiders. His talk will be followed by 45 minutes of responses from the audience. Sartain is attending the entire LCWR assembly, but, according to at least one planner, will not be in other closed sessions. Despite his CDF mandate, he appears to be more guest here than manager. He was not involved in the planning of the gathering, an enterprise still entirely under LCWR control, a source told NCR.
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