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| Vatican Report Cites Achievements and Challenges of U.S. Nuns | Vatican Report Cites Achievements and Challenges of U.S. Nuns |
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| A Vatican investigation of American nuns begun under the previous pope, prompting protests from outraged Catholics, ended in Rome on Tuesday with the release of a generally appreciative report that acknowledged the achievements and the challenges the nuns face given their dwindling ranks. | A Vatican investigation of American nuns begun under the previous pope, prompting protests from outraged Catholics, ended in Rome on Tuesday with the release of a generally appreciative report that acknowledged the achievements and the challenges the nuns face given their dwindling ranks. |
| The relatively warm tone in the report, and at the Vatican news conference that released it, were a far cry from six years ago when the investigation was announced, creating fear, anger and mistrust among women in religious communities and convents across the United States. | The relatively warm tone in the report, and at the Vatican news conference that released it, were a far cry from six years ago when the investigation was announced, creating fear, anger and mistrust among women in religious communities and convents across the United States. |
| “Sorry, folks. This is not a controversial document,” Mother M. Clare Millea, an American nun who directed the investigation, said at the news conference. Instead, she said, it was “a challenge for all of us.” | “Sorry, folks. This is not a controversial document,” Mother M. Clare Millea, an American nun who directed the investigation, said at the news conference. Instead, she said, it was “a challenge for all of us.” |
| If anything, the report may help spur the process of including women in more decision-making roles in church life, some church observers said. According to the report, some nuns felt that bishops and priests did not welcome their opinions on “pastoral decisions which affect them or about which they have considerable experience and expertise.” | If anything, the report may help spur the process of including women in more decision-making roles in church life, some church observers said. According to the report, some nuns felt that bishops and priests did not welcome their opinions on “pastoral decisions which affect them or about which they have considerable experience and expertise.” |
| The report concluded by citing Pope Francis’ call “to create still broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the church.” But it did not make any concrete suggestions. | The report concluded by citing Pope Francis’ call “to create still broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the church.” But it did not make any concrete suggestions. |
| Pope Francis, who was elected last year and had no role in initiating the investigation, celebrated Mass on Tuesday with some of the nuns and clergymen who carried it out. | Pope Francis, who was elected last year and had no role in initiating the investigation, celebrated Mass on Tuesday with some of the nuns and clergymen who carried it out. |
| Mother Millea said that Francis told them he knew the investigation was an “arduous experience,” and said of the nuns in the United States, “Please give them all my blessing.” | Mother Millea said that Francis told them he knew the investigation was an “arduous experience,” and said of the nuns in the United States, “Please give them all my blessing.” |
| But the American sisters are not out from under Vatican scrutiny yet. There is still a separate review of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an umbrella group representing about 80 percent of American nuns. The Vatican’s doctrinal office accused that group of hosting speakers and issuing materials that had a feminist cast and strayed from Catholic doctrine. In 2012, the Leadership Conference was put under the oversight of an American bishop for a thorough overhaul — a process that was supposed to last five years. | But the American sisters are not out from under Vatican scrutiny yet. There is still a separate review of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an umbrella group representing about 80 percent of American nuns. The Vatican’s doctrinal office accused that group of hosting speakers and issuing materials that had a feminist cast and strayed from Catholic doctrine. In 2012, the Leadership Conference was put under the oversight of an American bishop for a thorough overhaul — a process that was supposed to last five years. |
| Sister Sharon Holland, the president of the Leadership Conference, who spoke at the Vatican news conference on Tuesday, said in an interview afterward that her organization had been working “very well” with the overseer bishop and his team, and that the oversight may end sooner than five years. She said there may be a news conference soon to discuss the outcome. | Sister Sharon Holland, the president of the Leadership Conference, who spoke at the Vatican news conference on Tuesday, said in an interview afterward that her organization had been working “very well” with the overseer bishop and his team, and that the oversight may end sooner than five years. She said there may be a news conference soon to discuss the outcome. |
| She also had an upbeat take on the new Vatican report, saying in the news conference: “It is not a document of blame or simplistic solutions. One can read the text and feel appreciated and trusted to carry on.” | |
| The investigation, known as an apostolic visitation, was initiated in 2008 under Pope Benedict XVI with only a vague explanation. The Vatican said it was the largest apostolic visitation ever undertaken in a single country. Cardinal Franc Rodé, the head of the Vatican office for religious orders, said then that the purpose was to examine “the quality of life of religious women in the United States.” | |
| The Vatican usually orders an apostolic visitation in the case of a serious problem or scandal, but there was no clear event or cause in this situation. | The Vatican usually orders an apostolic visitation in the case of a serious problem or scandal, but there was no clear event or cause in this situation. |
| Cardinal Rodé later said he was concerned about “a certain secular mentality that has spread in these religious families and, perhaps, also a certain feminist spirit.” | Cardinal Rodé later said he was concerned about “a certain secular mentality that has spread in these religious families and, perhaps, also a certain feminist spirit.” |
| About 350 communities of religious women were sent questionnaires asking about such things as their numbers and mission, prayer schedules, living arrangements, financial assets and property. Nearly 80 investigators visited 90 communities of nuns. | About 350 communities of religious women were sent questionnaires asking about such things as their numbers and mission, prayer schedules, living arrangements, financial assets and property. Nearly 80 investigators visited 90 communities of nuns. |
| Some religious communities took umbrage at the investigation and did not cooperate fully. A few nuns said in interviews that their communities had decided to give the Vatican only a copy of their original founding constitutions. The survey questions about property and finances led some nuns to suspect that the Vatican could be assessing their communities’ assets with an eye to appropriating them. The nuns were eventually told that they did not have to answer the questions about finances, but the suspicions never fully faded. | Some religious communities took umbrage at the investigation and did not cooperate fully. A few nuns said in interviews that their communities had decided to give the Vatican only a copy of their original founding constitutions. The survey questions about property and finances led some nuns to suspect that the Vatican could be assessing their communities’ assets with an eye to appropriating them. The nuns were eventually told that they did not have to answer the questions about finances, but the suspicions never fully faded. |
| The report acknowledged the resistance, saying that the Vatican was “well aware that the apostolic visitation was met with apprehension and suspicion by some women religious,” and that “the lack of full cooperation was a painful disappointment for us.” | The report acknowledged the resistance, saying that the Vatican was “well aware that the apostolic visitation was met with apprehension and suspicion by some women religious,” and that “the lack of full cooperation was a painful disappointment for us.” |
| Other communities of nuns, however, did cooperate and said that the process was an opportunity to reflect on their lives and communities and to be in more direct communication with the wider church. | Other communities of nuns, however, did cooperate and said that the process was an opportunity to reflect on their lives and communities and to be in more direct communication with the wider church. |
| Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, coordinator of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, a smaller and more conservative umbrella group of nuns, said at the news conference that the visitation was “an overwhelmingly beautiful experience.” | Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, coordinator of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, a smaller and more conservative umbrella group of nuns, said at the news conference that the visitation was “an overwhelmingly beautiful experience.” |
| If the Vatican does reprimand any communities or call for any changes, that would be done in private. Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, a Brazilian who succeeded Cardinal Rodé as head, said his office will send “individual reports” to some communities of nuns that “may have been the object of some concerns.” | If the Vatican does reprimand any communities or call for any changes, that would be done in private. Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, a Brazilian who succeeded Cardinal Rodé as head, said his office will send “individual reports” to some communities of nuns that “may have been the object of some concerns.” |
| But the broad report released Tuesday contained only brief, muted criticism, saying that the communities should “carefully review their spiritual practices and ministry to assure that these are in harmony with Catholic teaching.” | But the broad report released Tuesday contained only brief, muted criticism, saying that the communities should “carefully review their spiritual practices and ministry to assure that these are in harmony with Catholic teaching.” |
| The concerns of some nuns that the Vatican had wanted the sisters to shift away from “social justice” ministry or advocacy were allayed by the report. Instead, it encouraged them to continue working with the poor and toward “the elimination of the structural causes of poverty.” | The concerns of some nuns that the Vatican had wanted the sisters to shift away from “social justice” ministry or advocacy were allayed by the report. Instead, it encouraged them to continue working with the poor and toward “the elimination of the structural causes of poverty.” |
| But the picture the report presented of the women’s orders was grim. It found that there were now about 50,000 nuns in the United States, a decline of 125,000 from the peak in the mid-1960s. The median age of American nuns is now in the mid- to late 70s, according to figures reported in other studies. | But the picture the report presented of the women’s orders was grim. It found that there were now about 50,000 nuns in the United States, a decline of 125,000 from the peak in the mid-1960s. The median age of American nuns is now in the mid- to late 70s, according to figures reported in other studies. |
| Many communities of nuns also struggled financially, “despite careful stewardship,” the report found. The sisters work for free or are “undercompensated,” sometimes in church positions. With the church downsizing, some had been laid off. | Many communities of nuns also struggled financially, “despite careful stewardship,” the report found. The sisters work for free or are “undercompensated,” sometimes in church positions. With the church downsizing, some had been laid off. |
| The investigators found that “many sisters expressed great concern” about how to continue their religious orders’ purpose and mission and the lack of a new generation to provide leadership. Many orders have invested a lot of time and energy in initiatives to attract new members. But the report found that “the results are not commensurate with the expectations and efforts.” | The investigators found that “many sisters expressed great concern” about how to continue their religious orders’ purpose and mission and the lack of a new generation to provide leadership. Many orders have invested a lot of time and energy in initiatives to attract new members. But the report found that “the results are not commensurate with the expectations and efforts.” |
| The two Vatican investigations had caused an uproar among some Catholics who picketed in front of parishes and cathedrals across the country. Nearly 60,000 signed a petition of support for the nuns, which was delivered to the American bishops at their conference in Atlanta in 2012. Several prominent bishops said at that meeting that the two crackdowns on the nuns had been damaging to the church’s public relations. | The two Vatican investigations had caused an uproar among some Catholics who picketed in front of parishes and cathedrals across the country. Nearly 60,000 signed a petition of support for the nuns, which was delivered to the American bishops at their conference in Atlanta in 2012. Several prominent bishops said at that meeting that the two crackdowns on the nuns had been damaging to the church’s public relations. |
| The Nun Justice Project, a coalition of Catholic groups organized to defend the sisters, on Tuesday called the visitation process “demeaning and a huge waste of time” that diverted the sisters from vital work. | The Nun Justice Project, a coalition of Catholic groups organized to defend the sisters, on Tuesday called the visitation process “demeaning and a huge waste of time” that diverted the sisters from vital work. |