Of course with pope Benedict stepping down, a new wind blows through the Vatican with pope Francis as US conservative bishops have noticed. Bishop Raymond Burke was send to diocese of Malta – appointed as Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
U.S. nuns celebrate abrupt end of CDF mandate, meet with Pope Francis | The Examiner |
U.S. nuns have cause to celebrate. The Vatican’s four-year assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious abruptly ended Thursday with sisters turning to social media to tweet their jubilation. Pope Francis met with members of the LCWR as the CDF released its report on the U.S. nuns’ organization, which represents more than 80 percent of Catholic sisters in the country.
The Vatican was sorely criticized last spring for its dealings with the LCWR during the process, with some declaring the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and its assessment of the U.S. nuns’ main umbrella group was a modern day witch-hunt. The sisters’ organization was accused of not following a Vatican issued reform agenda initiated after a doctrine assessment was completed, specifically overlooking methods for the selection of speakers for the LCWR annual conferences. Their social platforms were questioned and it was suggested the group’s printed material endorsed heresy, undermined inherent Catholic principles on the priesthood and homosexuality and endorsed “radical feminist themes” that collided with Church doctrine.
The CDF concluded the LCWR has “made clear its mission to support and foster religious life that is centered upon Jesus Christ.” Sister Sharon Holland, IHM, President of LCWR, was unable to attend the meeting in the Vatican with Pope Francis, however issued a statement on the topic.
“We are pleased at the completion of the Mandate, which involved long and challenging exchanges of our understandings of and perspectives on critical matters of Religious Life and its practice. Through these exchanges, conducted always in a spirit of prayer and mutual respect, we were brought to deeper understandings of one another’s experiences, roles, responsibilities, and hopes for the Church and the people it serves. We learned that what we hold in common is much greater than any of our differences.”
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Dispute with US nuns began decades ago - Southeast Alaska Catholic NewsPope Francis addressed the topic of women within the Church, the family and society during his weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square Wednesday. According to Vatican Radio the Holy Father discussed the catechesis of the family, the Sacrament of Marriage, and the distinctions between the genders stating, “sexual differentiation is not ordered to subordination, but to communion and procreation…this reciprocity brings harmony and enrichment to the human family. Modern culture has opened new scenarios, and there is much work to be done in order to give women their due recognition.”
Of course a reply by US Conservatives in their magazine “Catholic Truth.” Truth as in Pravda?
Their main objection is this part of Pope Francis’ statement …
Pope Francis said that in God’s plan, sexual differentiation is not ordered to subordination, but to communion and procreation and he said that this reciprocity brings harmony and enrichment to the human family.
But, pointing out that it also presents a constant challenge and that modern culture has opened new scenarios, the Pope pointed out that there is much work to be done in order to give women their due recognition.
The very way in which Jesus considered women – the Pope said – shines a powerful light on a long road still to be tread, a road upon which we have only taken a few steps. This road – Francis said – “is to be travelled with creativity and audacity”.
The Pope also touched on issues that have come to the fore thanks to new freedoms and new perspectives opened up by contemporary culture.
See my previous diaries …
○ Vatican Joins GOP In War On Women
○ Catholic sisters rally against Ryan budget – Aug. 2012
○ Pope Francis Demotes Cardinal Burke by Booman