Pope Francis supports crackdown on US Nuns
Monday, April 15, 2013 13:01
% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.
Pope Francis supports crackdown on US Nuns
By NICOLE WINFIELD | Associated Press
Associated
Press/Gregorio Borgia – Pope Francis celebrates a Mass in St. Paul Outside the
Walls Basilica in Rome, Sunday, April 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Press/Gregorio Borgia – Pope Francis celebrates a Mass in St. Paul Outside the
Walls Basilica in Rome, Sunday, April 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
VATICAN CITY (AP) —
The Vatican
said Monday that Pope
Francis supports the Holy See’s
said Monday that Pope
Francis supports the Holy See’s
crackdown on the largest umbrella group of U.S.
nuns, dimming hopes
nuns, dimming hopes
that a Jesuit pope whose emphasis on the poor
mirrored the nuns’ own
mirrored the nuns’ own
social outreach would take a different approach
than his predecessor.
than his predecessor.
The Vatican last year
imposed an overhaul of the Leadership
Conference
imposed an overhaul of the Leadership
Conference
of Women Religious after determining the sisters took positions
that undermined
that undermined
Catholic
teaching on the priesthood and homosexuality while promoting “radical
teaching on the priesthood and homosexuality while promoting “radical
feminist themes incompatible
with the Catholic faith.” Investigators praised
the
with the Catholic faith.” Investigators praised
the
nuns’ humanitarian work, but accused them of
ignoring critical issues, including
ignoring critical issues, including
fighting abortion.
On Monday, the heads of
the conference met with the prefect of the
the conference met with the prefect of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Gerhard Mueller,
who is in charge of the crackdown. It was their
first meeting since Mueller
first meeting since Mueller
was appointed in July.
In a statement,
Mueller’s office said he told the sisters that he had discussed
Mueller’s office said he told the sisters that he had discussed
the matter recently with
Francis and
that the pope had “reaffirmed the findings
Francis and
that the pope had “reaffirmed the findings
of the assessment and the program of
reform.”
reform.”
The conference, for its
part, said the talks were “open and frank,” and noted
part, said the talks were “open and frank,” and noted
that Mueller had informed them of Francis’ decision.
“We pray that these
conversations may bear fruit for the good of the Church,”
conversations may bear fruit for the good of the Church,”
the conference said on its website.
The Vatican crackdown
unleashed a wave of popular support for the sisters,
unleashed a wave of popular support for the sisters,
including parish vigils, protests outside the
Vatican’s embassy in Washington,
Vatican’s embassy in Washington,
D.C., and a U.S. Congressional resolution
commending the sisters for their
commending the sisters for their
service to the country.
Following Francis’
election, several sisters had expressed hope that a Jesuit
election, several sisters had expressed hope that a Jesuit
pope devoted to the poor and stressing a message
of mercy rather than
of mercy rather than
condemnation would take a gentler approach than
his predecessor, Benedict
his predecessor, Benedict
XVI. Francis has called for a more
“tender” church and one that serves
society’s
“tender” church and one that serves
society’s
poorest — precisely a message
American sisters have stressed in their ministry
American sisters have stressed in their ministry
in
hospitals, hospices, soup kitchens and schools that serve some of the most
marginalized in the U.S.
hospitals, hospices, soup kitchens and schools that serve some of the most
marginalized in the U.S.
As part of the reform,
the Vatican appointed Seattle
Archbishop Peter Sartain
the Vatican appointed Seattle
Archbishop Peter Sartain
and two other bishops to oversee a rewriting of
the conference’s statutes, to
the conference’s statutes, to
review its plans and programs, approve speakers
and ensure the group properly
and ensure the group properly
follows Catholic prayer and
ritual. The conference represents about 57,000 sisters,
ritual. The conference represents about 57,000 sisters,
or 80 percent of U.S. nuns.
The Leadership Conference
has argued that the Vatican reached “flawed”
has argued that the Vatican reached “flawed”
conclusions based on “unsubstantiated
accusations.” The group’s officers
accusations.” The group’s officers
have said they would participate in discussions
with Sartain “as long as possible”
with Sartain “as long as possible”
but vowed they would not
compromise their group’s mission.
compromise their group’s mission.
Dwell in possibility. ~ Emily
Dickinson
Dickinson
NESARA- Restore America – Galactic News
2013-04-15 11:04:17
Source: http://nesaranews.blogspot.com/2013/04/pope-francis-supports-crackdown-on-us.html
Source:
