UPDATED: Vatican Holding the Course with U.S. Nuns

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UPDATE 13/06/2012: Head of the CDF comments on the meeting with the LCWR. Cardinal Levada on LCWR: “Dialogue of the Deaf” Not Acceptable While striking a note of hope, Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, leaves no doubt that Holy See means business in its current effort to reform the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). Speaking to the National Catholic Reporter shortly after a meeting in Rome between representatives of LCWR and Vatican officials closed, Cardinal Levada was unusually blunt, even suggesting that the LCWR—many of whose members play a role in Catholic higher education—could be decertified by the Vatican: In the wake of Tuesday’s meeting with representatives of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the Vatican official responsible for a recent crackdown said he still believes the relationship can work, but also warned of a possible “dialogue of the deaf,” reflected in what he sees as a lack of movement on the Vatican’s concerns. Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, floated the possibility that should the LCWR not accept the reforms outlined in an April 18 assessment, the result could be decertifying it in favor of a new organization for women’s religious leaders in America more faithful to church teaching. That a cardinal would even speak publicly about such a drastic step is an indication that matters may be reaching a crucial point. Cardinal Levada notes that the current series of talks between the Vatican and LCWR have been going on for four years. He does not seem pleased by some of LCWR’s actions during this period: Specifically, Levada cited publication of an interview with Fr. Charles Curran, a moral theologian censured by the Vatican in the 1980s for his views on sexual morality, in a recent issue of the group’s Occasional Papersas well as decisions to invite Barbara Marx Hubbard, often described as a “New Age leader,” to address the upcoming August assembly meeting and to bestow an award on Immaculate Heart Sr. Sandra Schneiders, another theologian sometimes critical of Vatican policy. Levada acknowledged he had given LCWR the go-ahead to proceed with its August assembly, but said he wasn’t aware at the time of the choice of speakers or honorees, and that “I wish they hadn’t made these choices.” “Too many people crossing the LCWR screen, who are supposedly representing the Catholic church, aren’t representing the church with any reasonable sense of product identity,” Levada said. Levada said while church officials cannot force LCWR to change course, if things come to an impasse, they can withdraw official recognition. “What we can do, and what we’d have to do, is to say to them, ‘We will substitute a functioning group for yours,’ ” he said. Cardinal Levada did not say whether, if this happens, the Vatican would turn to the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, a group formed in 1992 in response to what U.S. nuns loyal to Rome regarded as LCWR’s problematical direction, or a new group would be founded. Meanwhile, LCWR wasn’t giving much away: After Tuesday’s meeting, [LCWR President Sister Pat] Farrell and [LCWR Executive Director Sister Janet] Mock released a statement describing the session as “open” and saying LCWR would ponder its further response in upcoming regional meetings and at an August national assembly. They declined to comment beyond the statement. But Cardinal Levada’s remarks should have the nuns wondering if the time for endless dialogue is drawing to an end. 11/06/2012: The Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith this morning had something to say about the Women's Leadership Conference of Women Religious's meeting which took place today. STATEMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE CONCERNING THE MEETING AT THE CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH ABOUT THE DOCTRINAL ASSESSMENT OF THE LCWR Today the Superiors of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith met with the President and Executive Director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) in the United States of America. Most Rev. Peter J. Sartain, Archbishop of Seattle and the Holy See’s Delegate for the doctrinal Assessment of the LCWR, also participated in the meeting. The meeting provided the opportunity for the Congregation and the LCWR officers to discuss the issues and concerns raised by the doctrinal Assessment in an atmosphere of openness and cordiality. According to Canon Law, a Conference of Major Superiors such as the LCWR is constituted by and remains under the supreme direction of the Holy See in order to promote common efforts among the individual member Institutes and cooperation with the Holy See and the local Conference of Bishops (Cf. Code of Canon Law, cann. 708-709). The purpose of the doctrinal Assessment is to assist the LCWR in this important mission by promoting a vision of ecclesial communion founded on faith in Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Church as faithfully taught through the ages under the guidance of the Magisterium. [Source] This statement stopped just short of using the dreaded work...."obedience." The Vatican is starting to lose the 'beating around the bush' type statements of the past 40 years in favor of getting the job done.  I like it. Why? Think about it... In the military and in war the course of the world and lives in harms way are put at stake. They are taken from loved ones and that's why they take so seriously efficiency, virtue/strength and obedience. If those aspects go missing, people die - there is no screwing around because that will hurt the team. Souls of members of the Church and of the world die and go to hell. It's a fact that they are under attack (if you believe all this Christian 'rubbish'--yes Christ himself said it) by the prince of darkness why would you not take obedience and efficiency and leadership for eternal matters even more seriously? Consider the words of Pope Pius XII at the opening of the North American College in Rome  Related news:  http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=119772

UPDATE 13/06/2012: Head of the CDF comments on the meeting with the LCWR.

Cardinal Levada on LCWR: “Dialogue of the Deaf” Not Acceptable

While striking a note of hope, Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, leaves no doubt that Holy See means business in its current effort to reform the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR).

Speaking to the National Catholic Reporter shortly after a meeting in Rome between representatives of LCWR and Vatican officials closed, Cardinal Levada was unusually blunt, even suggesting that the LCWR—many of whose members play a role in Catholic higher education—could be decertified by the Vatican:

In the wake of Tuesday’s meeting with representatives of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the Vatican official responsible for a recent crackdown said he still believes the relationship can work, but also warned of a possible “dialogue of the deaf,” reflected in what he sees as a lack of movement on the Vatican’s concerns.

Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, floated the possibility that should the LCWR not accept the reforms outlined in an April 18 assessment, the result could be decertifying it in favor of a new organization for women’s religious leaders in America more faithful to church teaching.

That a cardinal would even speak publicly about such a drastic step is an indication that matters may be reaching a crucial point. Cardinal Levada notes that the current series of talks between the Vatican and LCWR have been going on for four years. He does not seem pleased by some of LCWR’s actions during this period:

Specifically, Levada cited publication of an interview with Fr. Charles Curran, a moral theologian censured by the Vatican in the 1980s for his views on sexual morality, in a recent issue of the group’s Occasional Papersas well as decisions to invite Barbara Marx Hubbard, often described as a “New Age leader,” to address the upcoming August assembly meeting and to bestow an award on Immaculate Heart Sr. Sandra Schneiders, another theologian sometimes critical of Vatican policy.

Levada acknowledged he had given LCWR the go-ahead to proceed with its August assembly, but said he wasn’t aware at the time of the choice of speakers or honorees, and that “I wish they hadn’t made these choices.”

“Too many people crossing the LCWR screen, who are supposedly representing the Catholic church, aren’t representing the church with any reasonable sense of product identity,” Levada said.

Levada said while church officials cannot force LCWR to change course, if things come to an impasse, they can withdraw official recognition.

“What we can do, and what we’d have to do, is to say to them, ‘We will substitute a functioning group for yours,’ ” he said.

Cardinal Levada did not say whether, if this happens, the Vatican would turn to the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, a group formed in 1992 in response to what U.S. nuns loyal to Rome regarded as LCWR’s problematical direction, or a new group would be founded.

Meanwhile, LCWR wasn’t giving much away:

After Tuesday’s meeting, [LCWR President Sister Pat] Farrell and [LCWR Executive Director Sister Janet] Mock released a statement describing the session as “open” and saying LCWR would ponder its further response in upcoming regional meetings and at an August national assembly. They declined to comment beyond the statement.

But Cardinal Levada’s remarks should have the nuns wondering if the time for endless dialogue is drawing to an end.

11/06/2012: The Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith this morning had something to say about the Women's Leadership Conference of Women Religious's meeting which took place today.

STATEMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE CONCERNING THE MEETING AT THE CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH ABOUT THE DOCTRINAL ASSESSMENT OF THE LCWR

Today the Superiors of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith met with the President and Executive Director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) in the United States of America. Most Rev. Peter J. Sartain, Archbishop of Seattle and the Holy See’s Delegate for the doctrinal Assessment of the LCWR, also participated in the meeting.

The meeting provided the opportunity for the Congregation and the LCWR officers to discuss the issues and concerns raised by the doctrinal Assessment in an atmosphere of openness and cordiality.

According to Canon Law, a Conference of Major Superiors such as the LCWR is constituted by and remains under the supreme direction of the Holy See in order to promote common efforts among the individual member Institutes and cooperation with the Holy See and the local Conference of Bishops (Cf. Code of Canon Law, cann. 708-709). The purpose of the doctrinal Assessment is to assist the LCWR in this important mission by promoting a vision of ecclesial communion founded on faith in Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Church as faithfully taught through the ages under the guidance of the Magisterium. [Source]

This statement stopped just short of using the dreaded work...."obedience." The Vatican is starting to lose the 'beating around the bush' type statements of the past 40 years in favor of getting the job done.  I like it. Why? Think about it...

In the military and in war the course of the world and lives in harms way are put at stake. They are taken from loved ones and that's why they take so seriously efficiency, virtue/strength and obedience. If those aspects go missing, people die - there is no screwing around because that will hurt the team. Souls of members of the Church and of the world die and go to hell. It's a fact that they are under attack (if you believe all this Christian 'rubbish'--yes Christ himself said it) by the prince of darkness why would you not take obedience and efficiency and leadership for eternal matters even more seriously?

Consider the words of Pope Pius XII at the opening of the North American College in Rome 

Related news: 
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=119772