July 3, 2009
Watch out Sister!
I must admit that I am shocked that the Vatican is investigating the nuns in America. No, I was not named to the team. I read about it in the NY Times. The "only men need apply" Vatican is up in arms because the nuns are, apparently, not following orders from the old guys. (That is odd. My mother was not a nun, in fact she was not Catholic, yet she too did not "follow orders". Makes me wonder.)
Sit before reading: "Cardinal Levada, who heads the inquisition of the nuns for the Vatican men, sent a letter saying an investigation was warranted because [I am not kidding] the Leadership Conference, the organization representing most nuns in America, had done little since it was warned eight years ago that it had failed to 'promote the church's teachings on three issues: 1) male-only priesthood; 2)homosexuality; 3)the primacy of Roman Catholic Church as the means to salvation."
And, guess who is scrutinizing the backbone of the church. Yes, indeed, Cardinal Ratzinger's former power base--the "Doctrine of Faith" folks who brought the Spanish Inquisition and other craziness.
There was another odd note in the NYT story. The nuns are also being told by the bishops to stop practicing Reiki, "a healing therapy" used in some Catholic hospitals. I never heard of it but I did a quick Google. It is a healing that reduces stress and promotes relaxation. Laying of hands is part of it. (Can't have that now. No siree!)
Saw an old friend in Marinette who struggles to remain Catholic. This story if the inquisition, will, I predict, push him off the pier. He and his wife attended the last mass said by Bishop Dolan before leaving for New York. He asked the Bishop, "Do you agree with me that if the Church dropped celibacy and permitted women to become priests the line of those applying would stretch from Milwaukee to Minneapolis?" Had Dolan said yes, he would not be in New York. A shame.
Perhaps the Vatican and the Iranian clerics should agree on a common approach to these uppity women.
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I am not a Catholic but I just cannot resist commenting. I too saw the NTY article. Just amazing.
My recently deceased father spent several stays in a Catholic hospital (St. Nicholas) in Sheboygan. It was excellent. A sister often came around to speak to the patients. No pressure, no preaching, just friendly concern etc. When I was a child I had my tonsils removed at the old St. Nicks. At that time the nuns were the nurses and a more dedicated crew I cannot imagine.
I cannot see that the Catholic Church is in any position right now to question anyone who is willing to sacrifice and serve the way these sisters do. Is it any wonder that the church finds itself needing to close churches and consolidate parishes etc.?
As I say, I am not Catholic but when I see the pain, hurt, disappointment, etc. that is common now among the laity I really have to wonder what the men who run the church are thinking. After all, no matter what your faith if you are a strong church person these congregations mean a lot to you and all I can see is confusion and disappointment.
Yes, these men of the church seem to have a lot in common with the mullahs.
-Griebnotz Doerkpfester | Egg Harbor, WI | July 3, 2009
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