National Catholic Reporter: LCWR: Meeting with Vatican-appointed bishops ‘open,’ and ‘cordial’
Associated Press: Bishops Press Religious Freedom Fight with Government
New York Times: Protestors for Nuns ask U.S. Bishops to help them out
Pittsburg Post Gazette: At national conference, Catholic bishops see a ‘broken economy’
For Immediate Release
August 10, 2012
Erin Saiz Hanna: 401.588.0457
Nicole Sotelo: 773.404.0004 x285
Catholics Commend Nuns on Response to Vatican
St. Louis, MO - Over 900 Catholic nuns gathered in St. Louis for the much-anticipated annual meeting of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). After four days of discernment, Sr. Pat Farrell, current president of LCWR, announced “open and honest dialogue” would be their next step with Archbishop Sartain who has been appointed to oversee the mandate. She went on to say that dialogue “may lead not only to increasing understanding between the church leadership and women religious, but also to creating more possibilities for the laity and, particularly for women, to have a voice in the church.”
“Today, the sisters stood in their integrity and, once again, responded to the needs of the people,” said Erin Saiz Hanna, spokesperson for The Nun Justice Project and Executive Director of the Women’s Ordination Conference. “As a young woman of faith, I find hope in their statement for the role of women in our church, and that dialogue is possible.”
“We commend the sisters on their prayerful discernment and response to the Vatican,” stated Jim FitzGerald, spokesperson for the Nun Justice Project and Executive Director of Call To Action. “Their actions speak to their faithfulness and the reasons why Catholics across the country support them.”
LCWR is an umbrella group representing 80% of the 57,000 nuns in the United States, which recently came under fire from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). The CDF issued a statement accusing LCWR of promoting “radical feminist themes” and “corporate dissent,” causing outrage among Catholics around the globe.
Thousands of faithful Catholics have rallied in support of the nuns in more than 100 vigils nationwide. This past week, thousands of Catholics attended the latest 37 vigils held across the country. To show solidarity, the groups each sang the church hymn “We Are Called” and uploaded photos and videos of their actions at nunjustice.tumblr.com.
View Sister Pat Farrell, OSF’s Presidential Address
For Immediate Release
June 20, 2012
Contacts:
Nicole Sotelo: 773.404.0004 x285
Erin Saiz Hanna: 401.588.0457
Catholics to Protest Vatican’s Treatment of Nuns
by Not Donating to Peter’s Pence Collection this Weekend
Washington, DC – Leaders of the Nun Justice Project, a group of Catholic organizations that coordinated the recent nationwide vigils, are asking U.S. Catholics to redirect their annual Peter’s Pence contribution from the Vatican to their local communities of women religious. Peter’s Pence is an annual second collection, normally made at the end of June.
“Catholics have already pledged over $61,000 at nunjustice.org to communities of women religious all over the U.S.,” said Erin Saiz Hanna, spokesperson for the Nun Justice Project and Executive Director of Women’s Ordination Conference. “I was especially touched by this comment from a Silver Spring, MD woman who pledged $4000:
“In the Church, money is power, I say, give the nuns real power, not just the pittance of Peter’s Pence, which will not impress the bishops. Henceforth, I am sending most of my financial support of the Church directly to the nuns.” [see below for several additional comments]
“Peter’s Pence donations are frequently used to cover Vatican operating costs even though Catholics are told the money will be used for the Pope’s private charities. There is no public accounting of Peter’s Pence contributions either,” said Jim Fitzgerald, spokesperson for the Nun Justice Project and Executive Director of Call To Action. “We think most Catholics would rather support the sisters with their money instead of the injustice and lack of financial transparency in the Vatican.”[i] <#_edn1>
“U.S. Catholics are inspired by the sisters’ faithfulness to the example of Jesus Christ who cared for the poorest and most marginalized. We give to help them continue their work. At least with the sisters, you know where your money is going,” said Saiz Hanna.
“At a time when bishops and high ranking church officials are on trial for financial scandals and covering up clergy sex abuse, faithful Catholics are clearly placing their vote of confidence—and their money—with the sisters,” concluded FitzGerald.
On June 13, representatives from the Nun Justice Project hand delivered over 57,000 petition signatures to the annual summer meeting of the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference. The petition called on Vatican officials to rescind their unjust mandate against the Leadership Conference of Women Religious representing 80% of the 57,000 U.S. nuns.
The Nun Justice Project will continue encouraging national prayer vigils, petition signatures and financial pledges through the summer as members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious meet to determine their response to the Vatican’s crackdown.
[i] \ Jason Berry’s recent book Render Unto Rome: the Secret Life of Money in the Catholic Church exposes a shocking misuse of charitable donations by people who administer the finances of the Catholic Church. An investigative journalist, Berry’s meticulous documentation reveals that Peter’s Pence donations are frequently used to cover Vatican operating costs. There is no public accounting of Peter’s Pence contributions as would be expected of other charitable organizations in the US and around the world.”
New Albany, OH: $2,000 pledge I gave this amount to these Sisters because I’m tired of the lack of inclusiveness and just plain fairness in my parish and throughout the Church. I hope to give more than the pledge next year.
League City TX. $2,000 pledge : Stop sending money to Rome and see what happens.
St. Louis, MO $200 per month pledge: ALL THE Sisters of Saint Joseph Here in St. Louis, MO, and those in Concordia, KS I am a part of the CSJ’s since grade school. NEVER have they behaved or preached or taught anything against church doctrine. The behavior of the Bishops and the Vatican is Shameful and uncalled for.
Iowa City, IA: $100 pledge I will redirect some of my Sunday offering to the sisters instead, on a regular basis.
Sutter CreeK, CA $25 Pledge I am pledging to support the sisters with a small contribution rather than the Bishop’s Appeal & have sent him a letter regarding this.
For Immediate Release
June 12, 2012
Contacts:
Nicole Sotelo: 773.404.0004 x285
Erin Saiz Hanna: 401.588.0457
Catholics to Deliver Petition in Support of Nuns
At Bishops’ Meeting in Atlanta
Washington, DC – Leaders of the Nun Justice Project, a group of Catholic organizations that coordinated the recent nationwide vigils, will hand-deliver a petition in support of the sisters to U.S. Bishops at their biannual meeting on Wednesday, June 13th in Atlanta, GA.
The organizations reached their goal of 57,000 signatures, one signature for every sister in the United States. Leaders of the Nun Justice Coalition and their supporters will gather at 12 noon in front of the Atlanta Hyatt Regency in order to pray before delivering the petition to the Bishops.
The petition calls on the Vatican to rescind its harmful mandate against the sisters.
“Catholics across the country are outraged by the Vatican’s attempt to threaten the women who have been the backbone of this church for centuries,” said Erin Saiz Hanna, spokesperson for the Nun Justice Project and Executive Director of Women’s Ordination Conference. “With the nationwide vigils and this petition, Catholics have made it clear that they stand in solidarity with the sisters and their good work among the poor and marginalized.”
“At a time when the church hierarchy is beset by scandal, faithful Catholics are looking for moral leadership and have clearly placed their vote of confidence with the sisters,” said Jim FitzGerald, spokesperson for the Nun Justice Project and Executive Director of Call To Action.
Later this month, the Nun Justice Coalition will be encouraging Catholics to redirect their Peter’s Pence contribution to local women religious communities. Peter’s Pence is an annual second collection, normally made at the end of June. To date, 50K has already been pledged in support of the sisters.
“The Church needs leaders willing to live out the gospel call. We are grateful for the sisters who have modeled for us authentic, moral leadership,” concluded Hanna.
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For Immediate Release
June 1, 2012
Contacts:
Nicole Sotelo: 773.404.0004 x285
Erin Saiz Hanna: 401.588.0457
Thousands of U.S. Catholics Rally in Support of Nuns;
Commend LCWR on Prayerful Discernment
Washington, DC – Today, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), an umbrella group representing 80% of the 57,000 nuns in the United States, released a statement regarding the recent Vatican mandate stating “the sanctions imposed were disproportionate to the concerns raised and could compromise their ability to fulfill their mission.” The statement continued, “the board believes it is imperative that these matters be addressed by the entire church community in an atmosphere of openness, honesty, and integrity.”
“We commend the sisters on their prayerful discernment of the Vatican’s mandate. It speaks to the faithfulness of the sisters and the reason why Catholics across the country continue to stand behind them,” stated Jim FitzGerald, spokesperson for the Nun Justice Project and Executive Director of Call To Action.
Since the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith first announced its crackdown on LCWR and U.S. religious communities, thousands of faithful Catholics have rallied in support of the nuns in over 50 vigils across the country and more the 52,000 have signed the Change.org ‘Support the Sisters’ petition organized by the Nun Justice Project.
“We are calling for the mandate against the sisters to be rescinded,” stated Erin Saiz Hanna, spokesperson for the Nun Justice Project and Executive Director of the Women’s Ordination Conference. “At this time in our church’s history when the Vatican is beset by scandal and the U.S. church hierarchy is on trial for sex abuse, church officials should stop trying to reform the nuns and reform themselves, instead.”
As LCWR continues to deliberate their response prior to their meetings with the Holy See on June 12 and leading up to their annual conference this August, Catholics will continue stand in solidarity with the sisters.
The Nun Justice Project plans to reach its goal of 57,000 signatures, one name for every U.S. woman religious, by the time they deliver the petition to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops during their annual meeting in Atlanta on June 13. In addition, Catholics nationwide will deliver letters in support of nuns to their local diocesan offices.
Catholics are encouraged to redirect their Peter’s Pence contribution, an annual second collection made by Roman Catholics toward the expenses of the Holy See normally made at the end of June, to local women religious communities. To date, over 34K has already been pledged in support of the sisters.
“We will continue to support the sisters in the months ahead through our prayer and faithful witness. They have supported us and now it’s our time to support them,” concluded FitzGerald.
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