(Donna Rougeux and Janice Sevre-Duszynska hold signs "Support Sisters" at Rally
in Louisville, KY. on May 29, 2012)
For
Immediate Release
June
1, 2012
Nicole
Sotelo: 773.404.0004 x285
Erin
Saiz Hanna: 401.588.0457
Thousands
of U.S. Catholics Rally in Support of Nuns;
Commend
LCWR on Prayerful Discernment
Washington,
DC -
Today, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), an umbrella group
representing 80% of the 57,000 nuns in the United States, released a statement regarding the recent Vatican mandate
stating "the sanctions imposed were disproportionate to the concerns raised and
could compromise their ability to fulfill their mission." The
statement continued, "the board believes
it is imperative that these matters be addressed by the entire church community
in an atmosphere of openness, honesty, and integrity."
"We
commend the sisters on their prayerful discernment of the Vatican's mandate. It
speaks to the faithfulness of the sisters and the reason why Catholics across
the country continue to stand behind them," stated Jim FitzGerald, spokesperson
for the Nun Justice Project and Executive Director of Call To Action.
Since
the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith first announced its
crackdown on LCWR and U.S. religious communities, thousands of faithful
Catholics have rallied in support of the nuns in over 50 vigils across the
country and more the 52,000 have signed the Change.org 'Support the Sisters' petition organized by the Nun Justice Project.
"We
are calling for the mandate against the sisters to be rescinded," stated Erin
Saiz Hanna, spokesperson for the Nun Justice Project and Executive Director of
the Women's Ordination Conference. "At this time in our church's history when
the Vatican is beset by scandal and the U.S. church hierarchy is on trial for
sex abuse, church officials should stop trying to reform the nuns and reform
themselves, instead."
As
LCWR continues to deliberate their response prior to their meetings with the
Holy See on June 12 and leading up to their annual conference this August,
Catholics will continue stand in solidarity with the sisters.
The
Nun Justice Project plans to reach its goal of 57,000 signatures, one name for
every U.S. woman religious, by the time they deliver the petition to the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops during their annual meeting in Atlanta on
June 13. In addition, Catholics nationwide will deliver letters in support of
nuns to their local diocesan offices.
Catholics
are encouraged to redirect their Peter's Pence contribution, an annual second
collection made by Roman Catholics toward the expenses of the Holy See normally
made at the end of June, to local women religious communities. To date, over 34K
has already been pledged in support of the sisters.
"We
will continue to support the sisters in the months ahead through our prayer and
faithful witness. They have supported us and now it's our time to support them,"
concluded FitzGerald.
Bridget Mary's Reflection:
May Catholics redirect their giving from Peter's Pence and donate millions for the cause of Nun Justice and their many ministries of care for the needy. I hope that religious communities declare independence from Vatican control and form 501-c-3's so that they will NOT function within this patriarchal model of domination and clerical control. This choice would inspire millions of Catholics. The people of God are the church, not the hierarchy or Vatican alone. I pray that many Sisters will embrace their vocations as women called to a renewed priestly ministry in a community of equals. Just think of the joy "nunpriests" would bring to thousands of faith communities in the U.S. and elsewhere!
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
703-505-0004
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