"The Vatican Lays A Cunning Trap For American Nuns" by Mary Johnson/Huffington Post/ If Reformers lived in St. Joan of Arc's time, we'd be "crispy critters" for crossing hierarchy!

At the end of this month, the LeadershipConference of Women Religious will meet to formulate a response to a Vatican trap whose cunning is best appreciated within the long tradition of religious authorities who craft impossible dilemmas for those they perceive as threats. Two millennia ago, the chief priests sent someone to ask Jesus, "Should we pay taxes?" If Jesus said yes, he would pit himself against Jewish resistance to Roman occupation and therefore, in Jewish eyes, against God. If he said no, the Romans could execute him for sedition. Instead, Jesus famously replied, "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."

In the 15th century, Joan of Arc's ecclesiastical inquisitors asked her, "Do you know yourself to be in God's grace?" If Joan answered yes, she would commit heresy because the Church had long taught that no one could be certain of being in God's grace; if no, they could interpret her answer as an admission of guilt. Joan looked them in the eyes and replied, "If I am not in God's grace, may God put me there; if I am, may God so keep me."

Today, the Vatican tells the women of the LCWR, "Submit to our oversight and control of your every action for the next five years." The Vatican's official "or else" clause remains unstated but clear to all involved. "Submit to our authority, or call yourselves Catholic no longer..."

Bridget Mary's Reflection

In my view, the LCWR should not submit to the power and control tactic of the bishops.  The bishops do not "own" our Catholic identity. By baptism we are initiated into this faith community and noone, not even the pope, can take it away from us. The nuns are as Catholic as the pope and the bishops who seek to dominate them. I pray that Wisdom Sophia may guide the Sisters and that the people of God, the church, may continue to support these dedicated disciples of Christ so that nunjustice will be done! I am glad that we do not live in the 14th century when burning at the stake was the price one paid for following one's conscience and  crossing the hierarchy. My brother, Sean, has said to me more than once, you are lucky you live in this age. If you lived in St. Joan's era, you would be a "crispy critter!"  
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
www.arcwp.org
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-c-johnson/vatican-lays-a-cunning-trap-for-american-nuns_b_1527369.html