Bridget Mary's Reflection:
I agree with Tom Fox's analysis that the LCWR has taken the high road in their response to the Vatican's mandate. I will be surprised if the LCWR's gracious invitation to dialogue is accepted by Vatican representatives. However, the LCWR has made it clear that if the Vatican does not embrace this open dialogue, then they are prepared to take another path- hopefully toward independence from patriarchal control! Tom Fox tiptoes around the elephant in the church's living room, the injustice of sexism that excludes women from decision-making positions in the governance structures of the church. In my view, this is all about power and control and bringing the nuns into line on the hot button issues:women priests, gay marriage, contraception.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
www.arcwp.org
..."In her outgoing address to the assembly, Farrell advised the sisters not to make too much or too little of the doctrinal assessment. Her measured tone allowed the group to see and size it up in a manageable way. This, then, represents one more challenge among many, albeit one from within the church and from the bishops. She then offered six tools “for navigating the shifts occurring in the world and church”: contemplation, use of the prophetic voice, solidarity with the marginalized, community, nonviolent responses, and the capacity to live in joyful hope.
In the world LCRW envisions, the women can discuss the mandate guided by the six tools.
If the women came to Saint Louis full of anxieties, they left buoyed by a collective sigh of a relief they had come to common grounds and that it was filled with the joy and hope of which Farrell spoke. They left believing they had modeled a way of being church that was coming out of consensus, was respectful, nonviolent, avoided demeaning characterizations. It was one that allowed plenty of room in which the bishops could maneuver without having to lose face.
The gathering, meanwhile, reinforced, in the women’s eyes, the pressing need for more feminine voices within our church while offering encouragement that for now, some of these voices had surfaced, and are being listened to throughout the church and beyond.
The LCWR statement insists from the start that the conversation with the bishops must take place “from a stance of deep prayer that values mutual respect, careful listening and open dialogue.”
And how long do the women envision these conversations will last?
As long as required, unless LCWR “is forced to compromise the integrity of its mission … as a voice for justice in the world.”
For the sake of LCWR, the church, and wider world, let’s now pray this integrity will be respected and will remain intact."
Bridget Mary's Reflection:
The LCWR has taken the high road in their response to the Vatican's attempt of a hostile take-over of their organization. I will be surprised if the LCWR's gracious invitation to dialogue is accepted by Vatican representatives. However, the LCWR has made it clear that if the Vatican does not embrace this open dialogue, then they are prepared to take another path- hopefully toward independence from patriarchal control! Tom Fox tiptoes around the elephant in the church's living room, the injustice of sexism that excludes women from decision-making positions in the governance structures of the church. In my view, this is all about power and control and bringing the nuns into line on the hot button issues:women priests, gay marriage, contraception.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
www.arcwp.org
In the world LCRW envisions, the women can discuss the mandate guided by the six tools.
If the women came to Saint Louis full of anxieties, they left buoyed by a collective sigh of a relief they had come to common grounds and that it was filled with the joy and hope of which Farrell spoke. They left believing they had modeled a way of being church that was coming out of consensus, was respectful, nonviolent, avoided demeaning characterizations. It was one that allowed plenty of room in which the bishops could maneuver without having to lose face.
The gathering, meanwhile, reinforced, in the women’s eyes, the pressing need for more feminine voices within our church while offering encouragement that for now, some of these voices had surfaced, and are being listened to throughout the church and beyond.
The LCWR statement insists from the start that the conversation with the bishops must take place “from a stance of deep prayer that values mutual respect, careful listening and open dialogue.”
And how long do the women envision these conversations will last?
As long as required, unless LCWR “is forced to compromise the integrity of its mission … as a voice for justice in the world.”
For the sake of LCWR, the church, and wider world, let’s now pray this integrity will be respected and will remain intact."
Bridget Mary's Reflection:
The LCWR has taken the high road in their response to the Vatican's attempt of a hostile take-over of their organization. I will be surprised if the LCWR's gracious invitation to dialogue is accepted by Vatican representatives. However, the LCWR has made it clear that if the Vatican does not embrace this open dialogue, then they are prepared to take another path- hopefully toward independence from patriarchal control! Tom Fox tiptoes around the elephant in the church's living room, the injustice of sexism that excludes women from decision-making positions in the governance structures of the church. In my view, this is all about power and control and bringing the nuns into line on the hot button issues:women priests, gay marriage, contraception.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
www.arcwp.org
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