Nuns not anti-gay enough

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The Vatican has begun a crackdown on United States nuns it believes have focused too much on poverty and economic injustice and not enough on advocating against abortion and same-sex marriage.


The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a verdict on the nun’s group, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, The New York Times reports.


It claimed that members of the group challenged church teaching on homosexuality and promoted “radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith”.


Among the assessment’s other criticisms was that US sisters publicly supported President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, which went against US bishops who opposed the reforms.


The nuns’ group claims to represent 80 percent of Catholic sisters in the US. It was formed in 1956 at the Vatican’s request.
 The Vatican has now appointed an American bishop to rein in the group.


Social justice lobby group Network executive director Sister Simone Campbell (pictured) told the NYT she was stunned by the decision.


“I would imagine that it was our health care letter that made them mad,” she said.


“We haven’t violated any teaching, we have just been raising questions and interpreting politics.”


She also suggested to BBC News that the Vatican may have difficult time ahead.

“It’s totally a top-down process and I don’t think the bishops have any idea of what they’re in for,” she said.


American nuns have been under particular scrutiny under Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy. He was in charge of the Vatican’s doctrinal office before becoming pope. 


The Vatican has also conducted a separate investigation into all women’s religious orders in the US, the results of which have not been made public

5 Comments

1. 

   Dave Canberra

   April 23, 2012 at 2:26 pm

   
   

   The trouble is that the nuns have spent far too much time reading the Sermon on the Mount and not enough time studying Leviticus – “just give me that old time religion” – anyone for a stoning? Repeat chorus “just give me ….
2. 

   Stuart Baanstra

   April 23, 2012 at 6:47 pm

   
   

   It’s time gay people assumed the role of God.
3. 

   Brenty

   April 24, 2012 at 4:38 am

   
   

   Who would want to listen to the ‘old boys club’ in the Vatican anyway?
4. 

   Oliver

   April 24, 2012 at 11:07 pm

   
   

   As a roman catholic, although I dont agree with ssm and abortion, nuns take a vow of poverty and that generally should be their main priority and many sisters have done a wonderful work over the years. Mother theresa for example.
5. 

   SimonR

   April 25, 2012 at 9:52 am

   
   

   The Vatican should elect a gay Pope

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