LCWR

Pope tells nuns to be spiritual mothers, not ‘spinsters’

By Alessandro Speciale — May 8, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) With one of the more colorful unscripted expressions that have become a hallmark of his young pontificate, Pope Francis reminded nuns that they should be "fertile" spiritual mothers, not "'spinsters.”

Vatican cardinal says he was sidelined in crackdown of US nuns

By Alessandro Speciale — May 6, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) When the Vatican's doctrinal office informed the office that oversees religious orders about a probe of American nuns, the cardinal who heads the office was told the investigation was already completed.

Pope Francis orders overhaul of US nuns to continue

By Alessandro Speciale — April 15, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The decision to continue a Vatican overhaul of U.S. nuns, while not entirely unexpected, could nonetheless bring an end to Pope Francis' honeymoon with the many American Catholics who had viewed the crackdown on nuns as heavy-handed and unnecessary.

Bishops and American nuns hold ‘cordial and open’ meeting

By Daniel Burke — November 12, 2012

(RNS) A meeting on Sunday (Nov. 11) between three American bishops and the nuns' group they are tasked with overhauling was "open and cordial,'' according to a joint statement. By Daniel Burke.

Archbishop who oversaw nuns probe transferred to Indianapolis

By Alessandro Speciale — October 18, 2012

VATICAN CITY (RNS) An American prelate who played a key role in trying to bridge the gap between Rome and U.S. nuns was transferred to Indianapolis only two years after taking up his Vatican post. By Alessandro Speciale.

Old-fashioned nuns say the past is key to the future

By David Gibson — August 22, 2012

(RNS) The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious comprises convents with a total of about 10,000 nuns, and you probably won't be reading about any Vatican investigation of their practices. By David Gibson.

Nuns group: We are not leaving the church

By Kevin Eckstrom — August 16, 2012

WASHINGTON (RNS) A top leader in the group of Catholic nuns who are facing a crackdown from the Vatican says her members have no plans or desire to leave the church, or reconstitute their group beyond Vatican control. By Kevin Eckstrom.

Group house gives women a place to discern their calling as nuns

By Bruce Nolan — August 16, 2012

NEW ORLEANS (RNS) The Archdiocese of New Orleans has launched a kind of halfway house where a woman considering a vocation can live while giving the matter thought and prayer, the first in the nation that gives would-be nuns the same environment as would-be priests. By Bruce Nolan.

Nuns reject Vatican takeover but seek dialogue on differences

By David Gibson — August 10, 2012

ST. LOUIS (RNS) American nuns facing a Vatican takeover of their leadership organization on Friday (Aug. 10) rejected Rome’s plans to recast the group in a more conservative mold but declined – for now – to respond with an ultimatum that could have created an unprecedented schism between the sisters and the hierarchy. By David Gibson.

Nuns gather to plan response to Vatican crackdown

By David Gibson — August 8, 2012

ST. LOUIS (RNS) As hundreds of nuns met here on Wednesday to begin crafting an answer to Vatican demands that their leaders toe the line on orthodoxy, there was a pervasive sense that this week's discussions could lead to a fateful juncture in the history of Catholicism in America.

Vatican showdown the latest chapter in Sister Pat Farrell’s dramatic life

By David Gibson — August 2, 2012

(RNS) Sister Pat Farrell is at the center of one of the biggest crises in the Catholic Church, representing the majority of U.S. nuns in their looming showdown with the Vatican. But this is hardly the most difficult or dramatic episode in her life. By David Gibson.

American nuns call Vatican talks ‘difficult’

By David Gibson — June 18, 2012

(RNS) American nuns who are under investigation by the Vatican say last week's discussions with Rome were "difficult" and indicate that public comments by a number of U.S. bishops have not made negotiations easier. By David Gibson.

In ‘cordial’ dialogue, Vatican asserts control over U.S. nuns

By Alessandro Speciale — June 12, 2012

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Leaders of an umbrella group that represents the majority of U.S. nuns met with top Vatican doctrinal officials on Tuesday (June 12) in an atmosphere of “openness and cordiality,” according to a Vatican statement. By Alessandro Speciale.

Catholic theologians back Sister Margaret Farley against Vatican censure

By Tim Townsend — June 8, 2012

ST. LOUIS (RNS) The board of the nation's largest association of theologians issued a statement Thursday (June 7) in support of Sister Margaret Farley, a Yale theologian whose work in sexual ethics was publicly criticized by the Vatican earlier this week. By Tim Townsend.

Franciscan friars back American nuns in Vatican spat

By Daniel Burke — June 7, 2012

(RNS) Franciscan friars are throwing their support behind a group of American nuns, saying Vatican criticism of the women was "excessive" and is "polarizing" the Catholic Church. By Daniel Burke.

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