Vatican ends crackdown on U.S. nuns

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican on Thursday unexpectedly ended its controversial reform of the main umbrella group of U.S. nuns, cementing a shift in tone and treatment of the U.S. sisters under the social justice-minded Pope Francis.

The Vatican said it had accepted a final report on its overhaul of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and declared that the “implementation of the mandate has been accomplished” nearly two years ahead of schedule.

It was an abrupt about-face given that just last year, the head of the Vatican’s doctrine office, Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, sharply rebuked the LCWR for its “regrettable” attitude and behavior during the process. He accused the LCWR of being in “open provocation” with the Holy See and U.S. bishops.

The turnabout suggested possible papal intervention to end the standoff on amicable grounds, with the nuns accepting some doctrinal changes and the Vatican saying it was confident its goals had been achieved, before Francis’ high-profile trip to the United States in September.

When Mueller’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith took over the LCWR in 2012, it accused the group of taking positions that undermined Catholic teaching on the priesthood and homosexuality while promoting “certain radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith.”

It launched a five-year overhaul to fix a “grave” doctrinal crisis, fueled by concerns among U.S. conservatives that the group had strayed from church teaching by not focusing enough on issues like abortion and euthanasia.

The Vatican appointed a bishop to oversee the rewriting LCWR’s statutes, to review its plans and programs — including approving speakers — and ensure the organization properly followed Catholic prayer and ritual.

The takeover, combined with a separate Vatican investigation into the quality of life of U.S. nuns, deeply wounded the U.S. sisters who oversee the lion’s share of the Catholic Church’s social programs, running schools, hospitals, homeless shelters and soup kitchens. The crackdown resulted in a remarkable outpouring of popular support for their work and fueled allegations that the church was employing a heavy-handed, misogynistic tactic against the women.

In a final joint report, the congregation and the LCWR said the group’s new statutes show its focus on Christ and being faithful to church teaching. It said an advisory committee made up of “competent theologians” would ensure manuscripts in LCWR publications are doctrinally sound. It said speakers at LCWR events must use the “ecclesial language of faith” in their remarks and said there would be a revised process for selecting award winners.

Last year, the Leadership Conference honored a theologian, Sister Elizabeth Johnson, whose work had drawn sharp criticism from U.S. bishops.

In December, the Vatican’s quality of life investigation ended with sweeping praise for the sisters for their selfless work caring for the poor. Thursday’s conclusion of the doctrinal assessment reflected a similar outcome.

“Alleluia!” tweeted Sister Mary Ann Hinsdale, a theologian at Boston College and member of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. “LCWR investigation by CDF is over!”

Christopher Bellitto, a church historian at Kean University in New Jersey, said the announcement Thursday was “a complete vindication” of the sisters’ group and American nuns in general.

“Anything coming out of the Vatican this morning is nothing other than a fig leaf because they can’t say ‘oops’ in Latin,” Bellitto said.

In a statement, the official responsible for the investigation, Mueller, said he was confident that the LCWR is now clear in its mission of showing its members a Christ-centered vision of religious life that is “rooted in the tradition of the church.”

“It is this vision that makes religious women and men radical witnesses to the Gospel and therefore, it is essential for the flourishing of religious life in the church,” he said.

Sister Sharon Holland, president of the LCWR, said the process had been “long and challenging” but completed with mutual respect.

“We learned that what we hold in common is much greater than any of our differences,” she said in a statement.

After Francis was elected, U.S. sisters had expressed optimism that the crackdown would end positively given Francis’ own focus on the need for the church to be a “field hospital” for wounded souls.

The process had begun under his predecessor, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, a conservative German theologian who spent a quarter century as the Vatican’s doctrine watchdog, and was launched after complaints from conservative U.S. bishops and influential Catholics about the doctrinal soundness of the organization.

Mueller’s office dashed any hopes of immediate change under Francis when he met with the LCWR leadership in April 2013, a month after Francis was elected, and said the pope had “reaffirmed the findings of the assessment and the program of reform.”

But two years later, the overhaul ended and a delegation of LCWR officials met with Francis in the Apostolic Palace. They said they discussed his “Joy of the Gospel” apostolic exhortation, which lays out his vision of a church that is merciful and looks out for the poorest.

“Our conversation allowed us to personally thank Pope Francis for providing leadership and a vision that has captivated our hearts and emboldened us as in our own mission and service to the church,” the LCWR said in a statement. “We were also deeply heartened by Pope Francis’ expression of appreciation for the witness given by Catholic sisters through our lives and ministry and will bring that message back to our members.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

The Washington State University Snohomish County Extension building at McCollum Park is located in an area Snohomish County is considering for the location of the Farm and Food Center on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Year-round indoor farmers market inches closer to reality near Mill Creek

The Snohomish County Farm and Food Center received $5 million in federal funding. The county hopes to begin building in 2026.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.