Seattle Archbishop to lead Vatican crackdown on nun group

BY KIRO Radio Staff  on April 19, 2012 @ 6:53 am (Updated: 8:16 am - 4/19/12 )

peter-sartrain-2.jpg
Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain has been chosen to lead an overhaul of the largest umbrella group for nuns, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. (AP) | Zoom
A Seattle Archbishop has been chosen to lead a full scale overhaul of the largest umbrella group for nuns, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.

Archbishop J. Peter Sartain has been brought in after a report Wednesday claimed the nuns were taking positions on issues such as birth control, that go against the Roman Catholic teachings, and promoting feminist views that aren't held by the Catholic faith.

The report from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said the organization faced a "grave" doctrinal crisis, in which issues of "crucial importance" to the church, such as abortion and euthanasia, have been ignored. Vatican officials also castigated the group for making some public statements that "disagree with or challenge positions taken by the bishops," who are the church's authentic teachers of faith and morals."

The Leadership Conference represents about 57,000 religious sisters and offers programs ranging from leadership training for women's religious orders to advocacy on social justice issues.

Benedictine Nun Sister Joan Chittister, who used to lead the conference, told CBS the church is trying to stop all debates on important issues, which will backfire.

"If we can't think those things through together, then this body that has supported, taught, educated and built the entire social system of the church cannot possibly be effective there anymore," said Chittister.

When the Vatican-ordered inquiry was initially announced, many religious sisters and their supporters said the investigation reflected church officials' misogyny and was an insult to religious sisters, who run hospitals, teach, and play other vital service roles in the church. Conservative Catholics, however, have long complained that the majority of sisters in the U.S. have grown too liberal and flout church teaching.

Seattle Archbishop Peter Sartain was appointed to oversee reform of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which will include rewriting the group's statutes, reviewing all its plans and programs, including approving speakers, and ensuring the organization properly follows Catholic prayer and ritual. The reform could stretch over five years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

KIRO Radio Staff, Staff report
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Comments (30)


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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Before any attacks..........
    April 19, 2012 7:42 am
    The Catholic Church is not, repeat IS NOT, a social club that members can change to their liking. This is certainly within the scope of the Church. .............. But since the days of Karl Marx, and likely long before, certain priests and nuns have come to the conclusion that true Christianity is communism (small 'c' of Marx - not large 'C' of Stalin). Not that the LCWR promotes communism, but .... While there has been a LOT of latitude in the past, and will be in the future, view points directly opposed to Church theology can never be acceptable - nor are they in any other church.* ... After all, God made use in His own image, not the other way around. ................................................. .............. * And neither are divergent views much accepted in either the democrat or republican parties.
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  • CH wrote...
    * Seattle Archbishop to lead Vatican crackdown on nun group . . . .
    April 19, 2012 7:57 am
    now this is going to be good. Stay tuned for "Late Breaking updated". Smackdown, Crackdown on NUNS?
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    CH, will you please restrict yourself............
    April 19, 2012 8:33 am
    to bakini barestas and breast feeding ? You'll find neither in a story about nuns.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Barry wrote...
    Give Me A Break!
    April 19, 2012 8:38 am
    How about a crackdown on the priests violating and abusing young boys? That would be great a place to start. Seems to me they don't have their priorities in order. "Excuse me sir, you can't touch me like that, you're not a Catholic priest!"
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  • scragsma wrote...
    try again, Barry
    April 19, 2012 4:44 pm
    You're far beyond the times. The 'crackdown' on priests abusing young boys took place a decade ago and has been highly successful. The greatest part of the problem in the first place was the advice of "the experts" (psychiatrists and psychologists) who assured bishops and other religious superiors that the offenders could be successfully treated and safely returned to ministry. Yes, this proved to be incorrect, and that's a tragedy; but as soon as it was found to be incorrect, the errors were corrected.
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  • bmaddy wrote...
    Big
    April 19, 2012 8:59 am
    Fairy Tale! You Catholic Church people crack me up! Nuns with Guns! Bishops and there little boys! Your church is flat out DISGUSTING!
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  • SeattleNative wrote...
    If they don't want to follow the Church's teachings...
    April 19, 2012 9:16 am
    ...maybe they should find other professions.
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  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    The catholic church has been evolving for millennia
    April 19, 2012 10:10 am
    Somebody had to lead the charge.
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  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    I remember seeing a picture of my 1st grade teacher, Sister Sylvia, in a bathing suit
    April 19, 2012 10:07 am
    Back in 1972.
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  • boyerbl wrote...
    Line the Penguins up and....
    April 19, 2012 10:23 am
    Line the Penguins up and slap their outstretched hands with a big ruler. Make them conform or quit the habit, the church is not a democracy.
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  • just Fred wrote...
    ARE YOU KIDDIN ME
    April 19, 2012 11:26 am
    If anyone thinks that organized religion is anything but crowd control over the population you have your head stuck in the sand - Confession? What better way to find out what is going on in the neighborhood, all in the lords name of course. Why else do you think the church has such strick rules on what you can and can't say, what you can and can't wear, how you can and can't live - THEY WANT TO CONTROL YOUR LIFE! It's not about religion, it's about a group of individuals that want to control how you think and live, and then turn around and molest our children all in "good faith", and oh yes, please pass the plate and contribute financially to this mockery. True religion is spiritual, and that spirit is within each of us. Do you really think any organization that condons the molestation of our children and protects the offenders, AKA priests and bishops, really care about you? Well, do you?
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  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    Just Fred I think it's time to
    April 19, 2012 11:38 am
    Switch to heavy duty tinfoil
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • just Fred wrote...
    citizen of krazy town
    April 19, 2012 1:45 pm
    you may be correct, but I don't think heavy duty tinfoil will do the trick, maybe 1" steel plate. But, can you show me where anything I said is not true? I am not against religion, but I do think ORGANIZED RELIGION in most cases is a sham. Just as kenaiguide said, "nuns who are evolving their worldview from one created essentially in the dark ages to gain control and power over the populace". Just stating the facts
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  • scragsma wrote...
    no one's trying to control anyone
    April 19, 2012 4:49 pm
    The teachings of the Church - which you are free to accept or reject - are largely derived from natural law, which can be deduced without reference to any deity. The 'rules' you seem to have such resentment about are nothing more than collected wisdom about what is good for human beings and human society. They just make good sense. And the Church never condoned molestation, nor protected the offenders. You're entitled to formulate and state your own opinion, but not your own 'facts'.
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  • Sealthsupporter1 wrote...
    Nuns on the run
    April 22, 2012 2:36 pm
    I guess the Bishop could suggest to them that they might feel more comfortorable in the US Episcopal Church. The Catholic Church changing it's settled doctrine is very unlikely.
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  • kenaiguide wrote...
    Wow..this will definitely make it all better....
    April 19, 2012 12:14 pm
    Let's put that genie back in the bottle....this is DEFINITELY the biggest problem the catholic faith has on it's hands right now...nuns who are evolving their worldview from one created essentially in the dark ages to gain control and power over the populace. It is truly hard to imaging anyone moving towards the catholic faith as a move to get closer to their higher power.
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  • BellevueResident wrote...
    How about the Bishop who ...
    April 19, 2012 1:50 pm
    just opened his big mouth and compared Mr. Obama, our President of the USA, to Hilter? He should be ashamed of his little self! What an arrogant ba***** he is! What the he** is wrong with these ordained men? No wonder the Catholic Church is calling back their parishioners? No sane person wants to be associated with them! Disgusting. He needs to apologize to the world for that snide stupid comment!
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    not that I've heard this 'just opened' comment, but..............
    April 19, 2012 2:25 pm
    The progressive/liberal left had no problem comparing Bush to Hitler. Nor do they or will they have any problem with Romney or anyone else slightly right of Bill Clinton (and watch out, Bill). ............ But are you saying that no Bishop or anyone else you disagree with has the freedom of speech RIGHT to compare Mr. Obama to anyone they want ? ......... 225 years ago, Pres. John Adams had congress pass something called the Alien and Sedation Act. . Essentially, making it a crime to critically comment on the President (that being Adams). This law was aimed directly at Thomas Jefferson and brought this country dangerously close to dictatorship. ....... Is THAT what you want ???????
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