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Vatican inquiry into ‘feminist’ American nuns ends with mild rebuke Vatican inquiry into ‘feminist’ American nuns ends with mild rebuke
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A three-year papal investigation into America’s 50,000 nuns, which inspired comparisons with the holy inquisition, produced an unexpectedly benign report on Tuesday, containing somehwat tepid reprimands and calling for a careful review of their spritual practices. A three-year papal investigation into America’s 50,000 nuns, which inspired comparisons with the Inquisition, produced an unexpectedly benign report on Tuesday, containing somewhat tepid reprimands and calling for a careful review of their spiritual practices.
The Vatican ordered the investigation – technically an “apostolic visitation” – in 2008, during the pontificate of Benedict XVI. It affected almost 400 institutes, all but the cloistered communities under the auspices of the US Leadership Conference of Women Religious. The change in tone in Tuesday’s report may reflect a new and more conciliatory policy under Pope Francis. The Vatican ordered the investigation – technically an “apostolic visitation” – in 2008, during the pontificate of Benedict XVI. It affected almost 400 institutes of US women religious: all except the cloistered communities. The change in tone in Tuesday’s report may reflect a new and more conciliatory policy under Pope Francis.
The inquiry came amid growing concern at the highest levels in the Catholic church over what was seen as excessive feminism and secularism among American nuns. Some were also accused of failing to speak out in support of the Vatican’s teaching on abortion and homosexuality.The inquiry came amid growing concern at the highest levels in the Catholic church over what was seen as excessive feminism and secularism among American nuns. Some were also accused of failing to speak out in support of the Vatican’s teaching on abortion and homosexuality.
Not all institutes agreed to receive the Vatican’s inspectors, or “visitors”. And some nuns refused to complete the investigators’ questionnaires. Yet, in its most critical passage, the report merely calls for America’s women religious to “carefully review their spiritual practices and ministry to assure that these are in harmony with Catholic teaching about God, creation, the incarnation and the redemption”.Not all institutes agreed to receive the Vatican’s inspectors, or “visitors”. And some nuns refused to complete the investigators’ questionnaires. Yet, in its most critical passage, the report merely calls for America’s women religious to “carefully review their spiritual practices and ministry to assure that these are in harmony with Catholic teaching about God, creation, the incarnation and the redemption”.
It was nevertheless made clear during a press conference at the Vatican that individual reports had been drawn up on each of the institutes. Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, head of the Vatican department responsible for religious orders, said his officials would be sending them to “those institutes whose individual reports indicated areas of concern”.It was nevertheless made clear during a press conference at the Vatican that individual reports had been drawn up on each of the institutes. Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, head of the Vatican department responsible for religious orders, said his officials would be sending them to “those institutes whose individual reports indicated areas of concern”.
Monday’s outcome did not, moreover, lift the cloud represented by a separate investigation being carried out by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s watchdog for theological orthodoxy. But the sense of relief among the senior American nuns who had come to Rome for the presentation of the report was almost tangible. Mother Mary Clare Millea, the superior general of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who headed the investigation, broke down briefly when she reached the passage of her prepared statement in which she thanked the cardinal and his deputy “for responding to us with sensitivity, respect and clarity”. The outcome did not, moreover, lift the cloud represented by a separate investigation being carried out by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s watchdog for theological orthodoxy. But the sense of relief among the senior American nuns who had come to Rome for the presentation of the report was almost tangible. Mother Mary Clare Millea, the superior general of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who headed the investigation, broke down briefly when she reached the passage of her prepared statement in which she thanked the cardinal and his deputy “for responding to us with sensitivity, respect and clarity”.
Millea finished her report in January 2012. She and other US nuns had been waiting for the Vatican’s reaction ever since.Millea finished her report in January 2012. She and other US nuns had been waiting for the Vatican’s reaction ever since.
Sister Sharon Holland, the president of the LCWR, which had been previously targeted by the Vatican, said the remit of the investigation had been troubling. But, she said, “today we are looking at an affirmative and realistic report which, we know, is based on the study of written reponses and on countless hours of attentive listening.” Sister Sharon Holland, the president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which had been previously targeted by the Vatican, said the remit of the investigation had been troubling. But, she said, “today we are looking at an affirmative and realistic report which, we know, is based on the study of written responses and on countless hours of attentive listening.”