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==Controversy==
==Controversy==
Sister [[Theresa Kane]], R.S.M., a past president of the LCWR, gained international attention in 1979 when she issued a plea during [[Pope John Paul II]]'s visit to the United States for the inclusion of women in all ministries of the church, including the [[ordination of women]].<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_39_36/ai_65774931/ Her 1979 plea unanswered]</ref>
Sister [[Theresa Kane]], R.S.M., as president of the LCWR, gained international attention in 1979 when she issued a plea during [[Pope John Paul II]]'s visit to the United States for the inclusion of women in all ministries of the church.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_39_36/ai_65774931/ Her 1979 plea unanswered]</ref>


On December 22, 2008, the Vatican's [[Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life]] (CICLSAL) announced it would conduct an apostolic visitation of U.S. women religious to examine their quality of life, ministries, and vocation efforts,<ref>[http://www.apostolicvisitation.org/en/about/index.html]</ref> which many saw as indictment against some of the less traditional communities within the LCWR.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-08-05-catholic-sisters_N.htm U.S. Catholic sisters probed]</ref><ref>[http://www.osv.com/tabid/7621/itemid/5603/Investigations-have-some-Religious-on-edge.aspx Religious on edge]</ref><ref>[http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0904882.htm Cardinal defends Visitation]</ref> In February 2009, the Vatican's [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]] (CDF) announced it would be conducting a Doctrinal Assessment of the LCWR because of the tenor and doctrinal content of various addresses at the organization’s annual assemblies since 2001.<ref>[http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15715 Women religious leadership conference faces investigation for continued problems]</ref> However, the LCWR said that Vatican had not fully disclosed the reasons behind the investigation.<ref>[http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0903724.htm LCWR questions lack of full disclosure]</ref>
On December 22, 2008, the Vatican's [[Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life]] (CICLSAL) announced it would conduct an apostolic visitation of U.S. women religious to examine their quality of life, ministries, vocation efforts, and financial status, <ref> [http://ncronline.org/blogs/just-catholic/rome%E2%80%99s-checkbook-strategy-women-religious] </ref><ref>[http://www.apostolicvisitation.org/en/about/index.html]</ref> which many saw as indictment against some of the less traditional communities within the LCWR.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-08-05-catholic-sisters_N.htm U.S. Catholic sisters probed]</ref><ref>[http://www.osv.com/tabid/7621/itemid/5603/Investigations-have-some-Religious-on-edge.aspx Religious on edge]</ref><ref>[http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0904882.htm Cardinal defends Visitation]</ref> In February 2009, the Vatican's [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]] (CDF) announced it would be conducting a Doctrinal Assessment of the LCWR because of the tenor and content of various addresses at the organization’s annual assemblies since 2001, some of which implicitly criticized the bishops' lack of oversight regarding priest-pederasts.<ref>[http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15715 Women religious leadership conference faces investigation for continued problems]</ref> LCWR said that Vatican had not fully disclosed the reasons behind the investigation.<ref>[http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0903724.htm LCWR questions lack of full disclosure]</ref>


The Most Rev. [[Leonard Paul Blair]], [[Bishop of Toledo]], was appointed as the CDF's Delegate to oversee the Assessment.<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/loader/cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=55544]</ref>. Bishop Blair submitted reports to the CDF and engaged in correspondence with the LCWR during 2009 and 2010.<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/loader/cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=55544]</ref>. The documentation collected during the Assessment was submitted to the CDF in January, 2011, and transmitted, together with the CDF's recommendation that steps be taken to reform the LCWR, by it to the Pope.<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/loader/cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=55544]</ref>. The Pope approved the CDF's decision in this regard, and the CDF began its implementation after the submission of the Assessment's Final Report in December of 2011.<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/loader/cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=55544]</ref>.
The Most Rev. [[Leonard Paul Blair]], [[Bishop of Toledo]], was appointed as the CDF's Delegate to oversee the Assessment.<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/loader/cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=55544]</ref>. Bishop Blair submitted reports to the CDF and engaged in correspondence with the LCWR during 2009 and 2010.<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/loader/cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=55544]</ref>. The documentation collected during the Assessment was submitted to the CDF in January, 2011, and transmitted, together with the CDF's recommendation that steps be taken to reform the LCWR, by it to the Pope.<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/loader/cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=55544]</ref>. The Pope approved the CDF's decision in this regard, and the CDF began its implementation after the submission of the Assessment's Final Report in December of 2011.<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/loader/cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=55544]</ref>.


In April 2012, the CDF released the findings from the Doctrinal Assessment and announced that it was appointing Seattle [[Archbishop]] [[J. Peter Sartain]] as an Archbishop Delegate with a mandate to oversee changes in the LCWR to reform its statutes, programs, and affiliations to conform more closely to "the teachings and discipline of the Church." <ref>http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-announces-reform-of-us-womens-religious-conference Vatican announces reform of US women's religious conference</ref><ref>[http://ncronline.org/news/women-religious/vatican-orders-lcwr-be-closer-teachings-and-discipline-church Vatican orders LCWR to revise]</ref> These findings announced that the Assessment begun in February 2009 was motivated by concerns that addresses at annual LCWR Assemblies were contradictory to teachings of the Catholic Church, that the CDF had received letters from LCWR Officers which indicated the LCWR collectively held positions differing from Catholic Church teachings on sexuality, and perception of "certain radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith". The findings by the CDF stated that these reasons for the Assessment had been communicated to the LCWR presidency in a meeting with [[Cardinal]] [[William Levada]] in Rome on April 8, 2008 <ref>[http://www.usccb.org/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=55544 Doctrinal Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious]</ref>. The final report takes much information out of context and misrepresents it.<ref>[http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/162647]</ref>.
In April 2012, the CDF released the findings from the Doctrinal Assessment and announced that it was appointing Seattle [[Archbishop]] [[J. Peter Sartain]] as an Archbishop Delegate with a mandate to oversee changes in the LCWR to reform its statutes, programs, and affiliations to conform more closely to "the teachings and discipline of the Church." <ref>http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-announces-reform-of-us-womens-religious-conference Vatican announces reform of US women's religious conference</ref><ref>[http://ncronline.org/news/women-religious/vatican-orders-lcwr-be-closer-teachings-and-discipline-church Vatican orders LCWR to revise]</ref> These findings announced that the Assessment begun in February 2009 was motivated by concerns that addresses at annual LCWR Assemblies were contradictory to teachings of the Catholic Church, that the CDF had received letters from LCWR Officers which indicated the LCWR collectively held positions differing from Catholic Church teachings on sexuality, and perception of "certain radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith". The findings by the CDF stated that these reasons for the Assessment had been communicated to the LCWR presidency in a meeting with [[Cardinal]] [[William Levada]] in Rome on April 8, 2008 <ref>[http://www.usccb.org/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=55544 Doctrinal Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious]</ref>. The final report takes much information out of context and misrepresents facts.<ref>[http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/162647]</ref>.




Revision as of 18:28, 6 May 2012

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is a canonically approved membership organization which exists as a support system and corporate voice for leaders of institutes, or congregations, of women religious (Roman Catholic sisters) in the United States.

The conference has more than 1500 members, whose congregations in 2011 represented 46,451 [1] (or 83%) of the nearly 56,000 women religious in the United States. Founded in 1956, the conference assists its members to collaboratively carry out their service of leadership to further the mission of the Gospel.

According to the Study on Recent Vocations, the average median age of women in LCWR institutes is 74. Among those who have entered in the past 15 years, 44 percent are under 30.[2]

History

At the request of the Vatican’s Congregation for Religious, leaders of pontifical religious institutes of women in the United States founded the conference in 1956 and named it the Conference of Major Superiors of Women. The name was changed in 1971 to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. In 1992 the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life established the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR). The CMSWR is a parallel organization that does not supplant the LCWR. A number of women's religious congregations choose to have their leaders belong to both conferences.

Purpose

The scope of the conference’s concerns is broad and includes: collaborating in Catholic Church and societal efforts that influence systemic change; studying significant trends and issues within the church and society; utilizing their corporate voice in solidarity with people who experience any form of violence or oppression; creating and offering resource materials on religious leadership skills.

LCWR serves as a resource to its members and to others seeking information on leadership for religious life and living religious life. The Conference assists its members to: carry out collaborative leadership to accomplish the mission of Christ in today’s world; foster dialogue and collaboration among religious congregations and other groups concerned with the needs of society.

Controversy

Sister Theresa Kane, R.S.M., as president of the LCWR, gained international attention in 1979 when she issued a plea during Pope John Paul II's visit to the United States for the inclusion of women in all ministries of the church.[3]

On December 22, 2008, the Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL) announced it would conduct an apostolic visitation of U.S. women religious to examine their quality of life, ministries, vocation efforts, and financial status, [4][5] which many saw as indictment against some of the less traditional communities within the LCWR.[6][7][8] In February 2009, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) announced it would be conducting a Doctrinal Assessment of the LCWR because of the tenor and content of various addresses at the organization’s annual assemblies since 2001, some of which implicitly criticized the bishops' lack of oversight regarding priest-pederasts.[9] LCWR said that Vatican had not fully disclosed the reasons behind the investigation.[10]

The Most Rev. Leonard Paul Blair, Bishop of Toledo, was appointed as the CDF's Delegate to oversee the Assessment.[11]. Bishop Blair submitted reports to the CDF and engaged in correspondence with the LCWR during 2009 and 2010.[12]. The documentation collected during the Assessment was submitted to the CDF in January, 2011, and transmitted, together with the CDF's recommendation that steps be taken to reform the LCWR, by it to the Pope.[13]. The Pope approved the CDF's decision in this regard, and the CDF began its implementation after the submission of the Assessment's Final Report in December of 2011.[14].

In April 2012, the CDF released the findings from the Doctrinal Assessment and announced that it was appointing Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain as an Archbishop Delegate with a mandate to oversee changes in the LCWR to reform its statutes, programs, and affiliations to conform more closely to "the teachings and discipline of the Church." [15][16] These findings announced that the Assessment begun in February 2009 was motivated by concerns that addresses at annual LCWR Assemblies were contradictory to teachings of the Catholic Church, that the CDF had received letters from LCWR Officers which indicated the LCWR collectively held positions differing from Catholic Church teachings on sexuality, and perception of "certain radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith". The findings by the CDF stated that these reasons for the Assessment had been communicated to the LCWR presidency in a meeting with Cardinal William Levada in Rome on April 8, 2008 [17]. The final report takes much information out of context and misrepresents facts.[18].


The mandate of the Archbishop Delegate, Archbishop Sartain, includes the following[19]:

  1. To revise LCWR Statutes to ensure greater clarity about the scope of the mission and responsibilities of this conference of major superiors. The revised Statutes will be submitted to the Holy See for approval by the CICLSAL.
  2. To review LCWR plans and programs, including General Assemblies and publications, to ensure that the scope of the LCWR’s mission is fulfilled in accord with Church teachings and discipline. In particular:
    1. Systems Thinking Handbook will be withdrawn from circulation pending revision
    2. LCWR programs for (future) Superiors and Formators will be reformed
    3. Speakers/presenters at major programs will be subject to approval by Delegate
  3. To create new LCWR programs for member Congregations for the development of initial and ongoing formation material that provides a deepened understanding of the Church’s doctrine of the faith.
  4. To review and offer guidance in the application of liturgical norms and texts. For example:
    1. The Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours will have a place of priority in LCWR events and programs.
  5. To review LCWR links with affiliated organizations, e.g. Network and Resource Center for Religious Life.

See also

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ http://www.nrvc.net/nrvc_cara_study Study on Recent Vocations to Religious Life]
  3. ^ Her 1979 plea unanswered
  4. ^ [2]
  5. ^ [3]
  6. ^ U.S. Catholic sisters probed
  7. ^ Religious on edge
  8. ^ Cardinal defends Visitation
  9. ^ Women religious leadership conference faces investigation for continued problems
  10. ^ LCWR questions lack of full disclosure
  11. ^ [4]
  12. ^ [5]
  13. ^ [6]
  14. ^ [7]
  15. ^ http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-announces-reform-of-us-womens-religious-conference Vatican announces reform of US women's religious conference
  16. ^ Vatican orders LCWR to revise
  17. ^ Doctrinal Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious
  18. ^ [8]
  19. ^ Doctrinal Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious
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