"Apostolic Visitation: Why Bother? Why Be Bothered?" by Joan Chittister/National Catholic Reporter/ Issue a "Nuns Emancipation Proclamation "

By Joan Chittister

http://ncronline.org/blogs/where-i-stand/apostolic-visitation-why-bother-why-be-bothered

Created Jun 23, 2010

"The question is, why bother? ...

No one seems to be sure why the investigation is really being done, except that to declare an Apostolic Visitation signals that someone somewhere has already decided that something is wrong. ..

But however uncertain the purpose and end of such an investigation, two other things are patently clear: First, it is costing over a million dollars to send teams of strangers into convents and monasteries across the land for five day analyses of the local religious culture. And second, however benignly the whole process may turn out to be, one sentence shows up in every official explanation of the process – one sentence that continues to raise questions about the standard operational procedures of the church itself. It reads, from a number of news reports on the subject, “The process will conclude in 2011 with a final report to Cardinal Rode. The report will not be made public or shared with the religious communities.”

"What? The report won’t be shared with the communities being investigated? The patient will not be told the diagnosis? The accused will not be told the crime? The paralytic will not be asked whether or not crutches can really solve her particular situation?..."

"But there is another question, equally important, that demands an answer, too. That question is “Why would anyone be bothered about such an ill-defined process?” And the answer to that question is a simple one: an Apostolic Visitation carries in its wake the canonical possibility that a community’s superior can be removed without explanation, or the community itself can be suppressed, or outside administrators can be appointed and installed without community approval. It can, in other words, change a community’s entire life on the basis of a report they have never seen."

"Clearly, religious–in fact, any group of people anywhere-- have a right to be concerned about the effects on them of a process that allows them to be convicted of something of which they were never told they were accused."

TIME FOR "NUNS EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION" FROM OPPRESSIVE VATICAN CONTROL

Dear Sisters,


Brava, Sr. Joan Chittister for being once a truth-teller once again!


It sounds like this investigation is more like a modern day inquisition! My advice: do not participate in your own oppression by cooperating with this sham Vatican power play.

Continue your prophetic witness and generous service to God's people!. Our global scandal-ridden church needs Christ-centered, courageous, gutsy women more than ever!

My prayer is that your journey will lead you to think outside the patriarchial box and embrace new forms of religious life that will enable you to live Gospel values freely as women religious.

If the Vatican's true agenda is to force compliance to pre-Vatican 11 religious life norms that no longer reflect the renewal you have been living for the past 40+ years, then, perhaps, it is time to issue a" "Nuns' Emancipation Proclamation" Let go of your canonical status and rejoice that you are free at last from Vatican and hierarchical control to live your life as you have defined it, and which, in most cases, has received the seal of official approval from the Vatican.


My community, Sisters for Christian Community, an international, independent community of women religious, is a new form of religious life that is non-canonical, independent of the hierarchy. We have been serving the people of God in diverse ministries for approximately 35 years! Our mission is to birth a new understanding of the reign of God. We envision building a global community where all will be one and where openness to the Spirit empowers us to search new and challenging horizons. We seek, like you, to live passionately the Gospel values of love, justice, reverence, forgiveness, nonviolence, equality, diversity, integrity and care for creation.

In solidarity,
Your sister in Christ,
Bridget Mary Meehan, sfcc