I heart the nuns

Actions speak louder than words. Catholic sisters have long been selfless advocates for the less fortunate. Despite serving as role models for compassion, the largest organization of nuns in America has recently been publicly humiliated and reprimanded by the Vatican. The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) had the audacity to question the value of culture wars and advocate ordination of women. In the eyes of the men at the top of the Vatican food chain, women are second class citizens and should gracefully accept the patronizing edicts of the patriarchs.

There are a number of things you can do to support the LCWR. The Nun Justice Project has a list of 6 items. At a minimum, consider signing the petition and passing it on via social media.

Let me share several eloquent statements by people of faith in support of our Catholic sisters. The first is from a letter of support to the sisters signed by a host of Catholic and Protestant groups.

Women in the churches have dedicated their lives to serving the needs of people in the world for centuries. Today, our Catholic sisters live in community and serve the church thoughtfully and creatively through countless acts of love, hospitality, and social advocacy. Our Catholic sisters are often strong advocates for people living in poverty, people who are in prison, people who lack access to affordable health care, people who are unable to access clean water, people who are sick, and people who have been victimized by the violence of others. Their service and advocacy is similar to that of so many of us who because of own experiences as women find it critical to place the needs of people who are impoverished, cast aside, and powerless at the focal point of our own ministries.

This from Fred Clark also rocks.

The LCWR — the nuns, the sisters, the largest umbrella group for women’s orders in the U.S. — are an impressive bunch. They’re some of the smartest, toughest and holiest Christians I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting. 

That these numerous orders of women religious exist at all is kind of inspiring. These are women called by God who had to build and sustain their own alternative structures, institutions and ministries just to be allowed to follow that calling. These are women who were called to ministry and called to leadership. When the Church decreed that men should enjoy a monopoly on ministry and leadership, these women went out and created a thriving black market of their own — an underground economy in which, for centuries, the hungry have been fed, the naked have been clothed, the sick have been tended and good news has been given to the poor.

And if you are still not convinced, check out this misogynistic missive from Fr. John Zuhlsdorf.

With this new development, however, watch LCWR – a subsidiary of the Magisterium of Nuns – try to spin their latest news as if they are being victimized by the holders of power in the very power structure they themselves would like to control.

Fortunately, there are many priests who welcome the nuns standing beside them rather than behind them.

Sign the petition at the Nun Justice Project and spread the word.