LCWR Meets with Vatican Officials.

I picked this up from Catholic News and World Report.

Today the president and executive director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious met in Rome with Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle, the Vatican delegate overseeing the reform of the LCWR.

The statements released by the Vatican and the LCWR reveal little of went on behind closed doors. It is expected that more will come to light in August, when the LCWR holds its annual assembly in St. Louis and will “determine its course of action in response to the CDF assessment,” according the group’s statement about today’s meeting.

From the LCWR statement:

The meeting had been requested by the LCWR to address what the conference considered deficiencies in the process and the results of the doctrinal assessment of the organization released by the CDF in April.

“It was an open meeting and we were able to directly express our concerns to Cardinal Levada and Archbishop Sartain,” said Sister Pat Farrell.

Sister Pat Farrell, the president of the LCWR, told reporters after today’s meeting, “We are grateful for the opportunity for open dialogue, and now we will return to our members to see about the next step.”

The Vatican statement about the meeting was also brief:

The meeting provided the opportunity for the Congregation and the LCWR officers to discuss the issues and concerns raised by the doctrinal assessment in an atmosphere of openness and cordiality.

According to Canon Law, a conference of major superiors such as the LCWR is constituted by and remains under the supreme direction of the Holy See in order to promote common efforts among the individual member institutes and cooperation with the Holy See and the local conference of bishops (cf. Code of Canon Law, canons 708-709). The purpose of the doctrinal assessment is to assist the LCWR in this important mission by promoting a vision of ecclesial communion founded on faith in Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Church as faithfully taught through the ages under the guidance of the Magisterium.

My analysis of the events:

Interesting to note a very big divide in the two statements.  The nun's representatives say,  “We are grateful for the opportunity for open dialogue, and now we will return to our members to see about the next step.”

While the Vatican report states, "The meeting provided the opportunity for the Congregation and the LCWR officers to discuss the issues and concerns raised by the doctrinal assessment in an atmosphere of openness and cordiality."

What I glean from this that the nun's representatives still view themselves with some sort of power and ability to sway the decision of the Holy See.  This simply isn't the case.  "Dialogue" constitutes a form of negotiation and movement from one position to another.  This is confirmed by the idea that they have a "next step," other than to fall in line with what the Holy See asks of them as consecrated Catholic religious.

The Vatican's position is very clear that while they were, "nice" that the discussions were not a form of "dialogue" as defined by liberal-speak.  Rather that it was a way for them to express their concern and for the Vatican to take what they will under advisement.  But the Vatican also clearly states the bottom line, "According to Canon Law, a conference of major superiors such as the LCWR is constituted by and remains under the supreme direction of the Holy See in order to promote common efforts among the individual member institutes and cooperation with the Holy See and the local conference of bishops (cf. Code of Canon Law, canons 708-709). The purpose of the doctrinal assessment is to assist the LCWR in this important mission by promoting a vision of ecclesial communion founded on faith in Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Church as faithfully taught through the ages under the guidance of the Magisterium."

This is not to be seen as allowing for them to continue to operate in a manner which in inconsistent with Church teaching and remain Catholic.  The sooner the nun's realize this, the better.  And it will save everyone a lot of pain and un-needed angst.

It remains my prayer that the LCWR falls in line with the Holy See and that Cardinal Levada and Archbishop Sartain continue to catechize these nun's in accord with sound Church teaching.