Catholic san Francisco
(CNS PHOTO/L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO)
Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
Western US bishops meet with pope Pope Benedict XVI poses for a photo with bishops from California, Nevada, Hawaii and Utah during an April 21 meeting during their “ad limina” visits to the Vatican. From left, Auxiliary Bishop Thomas A. Daly of San Jose; Bishop Patrick J. McGrath of San Jose; Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City; Bishop Joseph A. Pepe of Las Vegas; Bishop Larry Silva of Honolulu; Auxiliary Bishop William J. Justice of San Francisco; Auxiliary Bishop Robert W. McElroy of San Francisco; Pope Benedict; retired Archbishop John R. Quinn of San Francisco; retired Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius C. Wang of San Francisco; Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of Oakland; Bishop Randolph R. Calvo of Reno; retired Bishop William K. Weigand of Sacramento; Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento; Bishop Robert F. Vasa of Santa Rosa; and retired Bishop Daniel F. Walsh of Santa Rosa. Story on Page 10.
Citing doctrinal problems, Vatican announces reforms of US nuns group By Francis X. Rocca
In Silver Spring, Md., the presidency of the LCWR issued a statement saying it was “stunned by the conclusions of the doctrinal assessment of LCWR by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Because the
(CNS PHOTO/BOB ROLLER)
(CNS PHOTO/MIKE PENNEY)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Citing “serious doctrinal problems which affect many in consecrated life,” the Vatican announced a major reform of an association of women’s religious congregations in the U.S. to ensure their fidelity to Catholic teaching in areas including abortion, euthanasia, women’s ordination and homosexuality. Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle will provide “review, guidance and approval, where necessary, of the work” of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the Vatican announced April 18. The archbishop will be assisted by Bishop Leonard P. Blair of Toledo, Ohio, and Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Ill., and draw on the advice of fellow bishops, women religious and other experts. The LCWR, a Maryland-based umbrella group that claims about 1,500 leaders of U.S. women’s communities as members, represents about 80 percent of the country’s 57,000 women religious.
Left, Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain will provide “review, guidance and approval, where necessary, of the work” of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
leadership of LCWR has the custom of meeting annually with the staff of CDF in Rome and because the conference follows canonically approved statutes, we were taken by surprise.
Right, Sister Janet Mock, a Sister of St. Joseph of Baden, Pa., is executive director of the LCWR. The group’s presidency said it was “stunned” and “taken by surprise by the gravity” of the Vatican’s action.
“This is a moment of great import for religious life and the wider church. We ask your prayers as we meet with the LCWR National Board within the coming LCWR, page 17
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION On the Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 News in brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Father Barron . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Father Rolheiser . . . . . . . . . 18 Datebook of events . . . . . . . 21
Students aid poor in Marin, South Sudan ~ Page 6 ~ April 27, 2012
Constantine’s victory and religious liberty ~ Page 12 ~
Outside Europe, church growing at record rate ~ Page 14 ~
ONE DOLLAR
Book, movie reviews . . . . . . 22 Classified ads . . . . . . . . . . . 23
www.catholic-sf.org VOLUME 14
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No. 14