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MAY 10, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Keeping an open mind on LCWR assessment
That They May All Be One Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
There are ample reasons for the action taken by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
It is unfortunate that coverage in the news media concerning a recent document of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has been so one-sided. The document at issue, published on April 18, 2012, is entitled, “Doctrinal Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious� (LCWR). It has been placed on our archdiocesan website (WWW.ARCH SPM.ORG), and I urge our Catholic faithful to read the text in full with an open mind.
Main points Here are the summary points I gleaned from reading the actual text: 1. The Holy Father, as well as the Vatican, acknowledges with gratitude the substantial and historic contribution that religious women have made to the Church in the USA through their schools, hospitals and institutions for the poor. 2. This evaluation reports the findings of an assessment that began four years ago. Similar assessments have been done of programs involving seminarians and priests. Far from a secretive process, the LCWR has been aware of this assessment these many years. 3. The main concern of the Congregation is that the leadership or administration of the LCWR, not necessarily the individual members of the orders represented, has
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Vol. 17 — No. 9 MOST REVEREND JOHN C. NIENSTEDT Publisher BOB ZYSKOWSKI Associate publisher
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“We need to be clear that our preaching, teaching and Gospel witness accurately reflect the revelation that has been passed down to us from the apostles.
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ARCHBISHOP JOHN NIENSTEDT
veered toward positions contrary to the teachings of the Church. This is a concern that involves the salvation of souls. It is not meant as an indictment of individual women religious. 4. In particular, the evaluation found disturbing questions in four areas: a. Addresses at assemblies: One of the principal ways that the LCWR promotes its vision of religious life is by sponsoring an annual assembly. The addresses given here are a matter of public record. A review of such talks has found a number of serious theological problems or even doctrinal errors. When such statements go unchallenged, a certain credence builds in their favor. b. Corporate dissent: The LCWR has, on several occasions, written the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) objecting to Church discipline on ordination of
celibate men as well as their pastoral approach to the ministry to homosexual persons. Such positions are contrary to the collaborative relationship that a leadership conference should have in witnessing to Church teaching. c. Radical feminism: Public programs and presentations (all a matter of record) challenge the revealed truths that God is Father and that Jesus is fully God and man. At the same time, we know there is a faithfilled feminism articulated by Blessed John Paul II in his apostolic letter “Mulieris Dignitatem.� d. Silent neglect: There has also been concern expressed on the lack of expressed support by the LCWR on critical social issues such as the immorality of abortion and euthanasia along with the Church’s biblical view of family life and human sexuality. As a prominent Catholic institution, one would exPLEASE TURN TO ISSUES ON PAGE 9A
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Reader Inquiry Do you consider your career a calling? Do you consider your occupation more than just a job? Is it more like a vocation, a “calling,� in which you are using God’s gifts to serve and make life better for others? If this describes your career choice, we would like to hear from you. The Catholic Spirit is currently preparing a special issue on vocations and careers for early June. We want to hear from Catholics from a range of occupations — from the traditional to the non-traditional to the unusual. Please send us your name, parish, email address, telephone number and a short description of your occupation and why you consider it a “calling.� You may send the information one of two ways: ■By email to:
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ject line. ■By postal mail to: “Careers,� c/o The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102. We will publish a selection of responses in the special issue, June 7, and online at THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM. The issue also will include a section highlighting religious vocations.
Rally for religious freedom on July 8 Join Bishop John LeVoir of New Ulm and other leaders in front of the federal courthouse in Minneapolis for a rally for religious freedom at noon Friday, June 8. The rally is sponsored by Pro-Life Action Ministries and the Minnesota Catholic Conference. Buses for parishes or groups will be available through First Student at a discounted rate. Contact Lynda at (651) 631-1755 for more information. For more information about the rally, visit MNCC.ORG.
Twins set September to note altar servers The Minnnesota Twins will host Altar Server Appreciation Days during three baseball games in September at Target Field in Minneapolis. The Twins have set aside blocks of tickets for: 1:10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, when they take on the Chicago White Sox; 12:10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, and 1:10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, when they play the Detroit Tigers. Special discounted seating, starting at $15, is available. Call 1-800-TWINS and reference “Altar Server� at the start of the call. Order deadline is Aug. 16. Seating is limited for the discounted tickets. Games times and days are subject to change.