The Redhead pointed out this New York Times article to me, which of course got my dander up.
I have known many, many nuns. All of my education has come from Catholic institutions and naturally I've come in contact with nuns from various orders. I'm related to nuns. And more than anything, nuns are some of the most dedicated, hard working, compassionate people I know. Everyone jokes about scary, mean nuns that crack your knuckles with rulers, but these nuns only exist as a trope for me. Yes, I've known nuns I haven't been exactly fond of, the same way you meet any regular person that gets on your nerves.
My problem with this whole "investigation" of nuns — aside from the obvious "How long did you willfully ignore the whole pedophile priest issue? You're in no position to investigate anything; MIND YOUR P's AND Q's!" — is this section of the article:
First of all: REALLY? This is your biggest concern with the nuns? That they're not towing the line when it comes to PR on your outdated and bigoted doctrines? So you're disrupting their lives and demeaning their work for this. SERIOUSLY. MY GOD. One would think they would have bigger problems to worry about. As one commenter aptly put it, "These superannuated, out-of-touch male leaders seem more concerned with spying on well-meaning nuns than with attending to more urgent matters all over the world."
Secondly, all of it smacks of Pre-Vatican II thinking, one of my major issues with Pope Benedict. Along with the removal of liturgical dance and the return of the Latin Mass, it's an effort to distance the clergy from the congregation, to make the church less accessible to those that subscribe to the faith.
Honestly, it's like the Vatican wants me to be Pagan. And given the ways I practice my faith these days, I honestly don't know why I even bother getting upset anymore.
Edit: As usual, Jezebel says it better.
I have known many, many nuns. All of my education has come from Catholic institutions and naturally I've come in contact with nuns from various orders. I'm related to nuns. And more than anything, nuns are some of the most dedicated, hard working, compassionate people I know. Everyone jokes about scary, mean nuns that crack your knuckles with rulers, but these nuns only exist as a trope for me. Yes, I've known nuns I haven't been exactly fond of, the same way you meet any regular person that gets on your nerves.
My problem with this whole "investigation" of nuns — aside from the obvious "How long did you willfully ignore the whole pedophile priest issue? You're in no position to investigate anything; MIND YOUR P's AND Q's!" — is this section of the article:
Cardinal Levada sent a letter to the Leadership Conference saying an investigation was warranted because it appeared that the organization had done little since it was warned eight years ago that it had failed to “promote” the church’s teachings on three issues: the male-only priesthood, homosexuality and the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church as the means to salvation.
First of all: REALLY? This is your biggest concern with the nuns? That they're not towing the line when it comes to PR on your outdated and bigoted doctrines? So you're disrupting their lives and demeaning their work for this. SERIOUSLY. MY GOD. One would think they would have bigger problems to worry about. As one commenter aptly put it, "These superannuated, out-of-touch male leaders seem more concerned with spying on well-meaning nuns than with attending to more urgent matters all over the world."
Secondly, all of it smacks of Pre-Vatican II thinking, one of my major issues with Pope Benedict. Along with the removal of liturgical dance and the return of the Latin Mass, it's an effort to distance the clergy from the congregation, to make the church less accessible to those that subscribe to the faith.
Honestly, it's like the Vatican wants me to be Pagan. And given the ways I practice my faith these days, I honestly don't know why I even bother getting upset anymore.
Edit: As usual, Jezebel says it better.
Labels: Rants, Religious Natterings
2 Comments:
Leave the Sisters alone! In all honesty, Katie, I too have been taught by many, many nuns in my life. I went from kindergarten all the way through graduate school at Catholic institutions. While I agree that some Sisters have not always been my favorites, doesn't everyone have an authority figure or two that they would rather not have encountered in their lives? Sisters from all walks of life have touched my life in different ways and I thank God every day for my Catholic education and the impact the Sisters have had on me and continue to have on my growth as a person. I still sit on boards with Sisters and continue to learn from them everyday. I went to Chestnut Hill College with four now Sisters of Saint Joseph, all of which are 30 and under! The Nuns are not going anywhere and I think that scrutinizing their lifestyle is a slap in the face. Geez Katie, did you have to get me started:):)
Katie, Did you poke around for other articles on this subject, or at least examine the Apostolic visitations website?
It is not a witch hunt. It is a check up on our religious orders. It actually has nothing to do with the whole veiled or not veiled disputes or trying to put sisters solely in schools and hospitals. Each order is called by their founder, constitution (which is a papal mandate of rules and regulations) and charism to perform the counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience in their own unique way. Whether that is a Mercy Hospital, a Cabrini outreach to Italian Americans (or any immigrant) or IHM teaching, each order is uniquely called to serve God’s people.
You can’t throw the pedophile argument in here because it is already null and void. The Vatican already sent a team to look at all the seminaries and make sure they are taking appropriate steps to implement better practices in ordaining our young men. As relatives of priest, or future priests, you and I have a different outlook on the priesthood I think. I agree with much of what you say about holding people responsible for their actions that have irrevocably hurt the laity. But we’ve already checked up on them. Is it perfect? No, but our seminarians and priests are being removed from their clerical duties if there is even a hint of an accusation. The church is being responsible to it’s laity.
“But the investigation of American nuns surprised many because there was no obvious precipitating cause”
There doesn’t need to be a precipitating cause to examine what is perceived to be major issues in a group. We are all a part of one community (that whole one, holy, catholic, apostolic applies here). I have no doubt that in the coming year or two, our dear Island of Erin will be getting similar seminary and religious life visits. Their scandals have rocked the country to their very core.
“The visitation could result in some communities of nuns’ being ordered to make changes, but judging from how the Vatican handled previous visitations, those consequences may never become public.”
This is the most ridiculous line in the article. There is not a single factual bassis for this inflaming sentence. What previous visitations, what changes, what consequences?
You also site the return of the “Latin mass” and removal of liturgical dance as Pre-Vatican II thinking. There has never been a return of the Latin Mass. It was never, ever, taken away. Its correct term is actually the “Extraordinary Form” of the mass. The mass that we know and live is called the Novus Ordo. It was meant to be new and reformed of the virtually unchanged mass that was said for hundreds of years. Unfortunately in Vatican II we only got a new mass. We as young people under the age of 40 don’t understand the Latin mass. I don’t mean the language, I truly mean the mass. I’ve been trying recently to understand it and it hasn’t quite worked for me. I feel alienated and like the mass is being said for me, rather then with my prayers. I have never been taught that mass and how to pray it, which does me a great disservice. This isn’t pre-Vatican II it is a natural evolution of the mass that was supposed to happen under Pope Pius. The mass was supposed to be opened up to the laity, but then a few wars happened and there was more concern over saving people then translating and rewording the mass.
What is wrong with offering people who chose to pray in the extraordinary form the chance to do so?
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