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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010
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6

Vatican Steps Up Scrutiny of American Nuns

Nuns fear church heirarchy is seeking to return them to strictly traditional ways

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(Newser) – The Vatican has launched two major probes into the lives of America's 60,000 nuns, the New York Times reports. Many nuns have stopped wearing habits, moved out of convents, and found work in academia or political advocacy in the last few decades, and some fear the investigations are part of an effort from Rome to reel them back in to more traditional religious lifestyles.

The church hierarchy sees nuns as an "ecclesiastical work force,” a view that one nun says is “not on the same planet” as the more all-encompassing role spirituality plays in the lives of her contemporaries. No single cause appears to have provoked the investigations, but experts believe some nuns' involvement in groups calling for church reform may have been the last straw for the church's male hierarchy.

Nuns from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity from Seattle, Washington, pray and sing while waiting for Pope Benedict XVI to come by along 5th Avenue in New York last yer.
Nuns from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity from Seattle, Washington, pray and sing while waiting for Pope Benedict XVI to come by along 5th Avenue in New York last yer.   (Getty Images)
Mother Mary Clare Millea is leading the Vatican's investigations into the lives and habits of American nuns. One high-profile nun has called for her sisters to refuse cooperation with the inquiry.
Mother Mary Clare Millea is leading the Vatican's investigations into the lives and habits of American nuns. One high-profile nun has called for her sisters to refuse cooperation with the inquiry.   (apostolicvisitation.org)
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Why are the US sisters being singled out, when women religious in other countries are struggling with many issues about the quality of their lives, in the Church and in their societies?
- Sister Janice Farnham, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry

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6 comments
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anchower
Jul 2, 09 3:25 AM CDT
If I'm not mistaken, the Church does try to combat poverty. Aside from that, though, it's a pretty sick institution. Reply
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+2
armywife
Jul 2, 09 4:15 AM CDT
further proof that the Catholic Church is ridiculously misogynistic, which is why i left it and havent looked back. Reply
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+2
Derni
Jul 2, 09 11:43 AM CDT
The nuns have done great work and had a "back seat" since the RC church started-women are treated as secondary citizens-left this failing institution years ago-it will eventually disappear or become small -other cults will replace it-change and adapt or perish Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
justme
Jul 2, 09 8:09 PM CDT
Actually people, the Catholic Church is still growing in many parts of the world where their mission is, as it has been for hundreds of years, humanitarian, first and religious, second. PS The Church is also "adapting" as was mentioned. It is giving up on trying to be "Relevant " and is becoming more traditional and true to its own beliefs. The Catholic Church will not, according to this Pope, follow the lead of other faiths who have become so all-encompassing that they truly no longer have any beliefs.
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pollyanna
Jul 5, 09 7:47 PM CDT
This is a wonderful opportunity for a renewal no sisters who have remained faithful to their vows and no order that by word and deed reflects the Church's teachings have anything to fear from such a visit . Reply
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