U.S. Catholics respond to Vatican report on the Apostolic Visitation
This morning at 11:30am Rome time (5:30 Eastern here in the U.S.) the official report on Apostolic Visitation of Institutes of Women Religious was released in a press conference. The press event included remarks by officials of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, which ran the investigation, and representatives of the Conferences representing Women Religious in the U.S. If you missed the early morning opportunity to watch speeches, you can read the remarks in full here. You can also read the full report online.
As we read the words of officials, it is important to learn what sisters themselves have to say about their experience of the Visitation. Power of Sisterhood: Women Religious Tell the Story of the Apostolic Visitation is a wonderful resource told from their perspective. Others have weighed in with their own responses online, and reminders that this report didn't change the unjust power dynamics and structures which led to the visitation.
The Nun Justice Project, of which CTA is a member, called the report a "good first step" and was glad to see the contributions of Sisters recognized and their commitment to the spirit of Vatican II praised. "Nevertheless," they say, "the visitation process was both demeaning and a huge waste of time and energy for the Vatican and especially for the sisters who had to divert precious resources away from ministries to the marginalized just so Rome could discover what Catholics have known all along: U.S. women religious are among the most inspiring and faithful of Catholics and led the way in implementing Vatican II reforms." A process of healing and an official removal of the unjust mandate against the LCWR will be important next steps in rebuilding the relationship between institutional leadership and the U.S. Women Religious. The statement from the LCWR, which represents the majority of communities of Women Religious in the U.S., spoke of the pain and anxiety caused by the process but focused also on the way communities used it as an opportunity to reexamine their institutes and work in a transformative way.
Many CTA members have been active and vocal in their support of the Sisters, something we are proud to do. We are committed to holding our leadership accountable and to ensuring dialogue where both parties are on equal footing. We were inspired by the ways that the Sisters and their allies challenged the ways that the implementation was unjust and we are glad to see that what emerged was a more truthful report and a continued commitment to dialogue. Be sure to read our full reaction and stay involved as we continue to Stand with the Sisters!
Some news coverage:
Visitation takes mostly positive tone toward U.S. Sisters
A More Incisive Female Presence in the Church Is Needed
Vatican "Nun Report" Is Surprisingly Uplifting — But What About Those "Radical Feminist" Sisters?
Women religious and others react to apostolic visitation report release
Vatican's Apostolic Visitation Report Suggests Challenges, Hope for U.S. Nuns
Vatican report gives sisters and whole church reason to hope
Vatican extends olive branch to US nuns in conciliatory report
The ending should have been the beginning
The apostolic visitation report was laudatory, but the sisters remain caught in ambiguity
