WASHINGTON D.C. - One year ago today, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), an umbrella group representing 80% of the 57,000 nuns in the
United States, came under fire from the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for their social justice ministries and not supporting the U.S. bishops' agenda of attacking expanded healthcare, women's ordination, and same-sex marriage.
LCWR described the assessment as "based on unsubstantiated accusations and the result of a flawed process that lacked transparency," causing "pain and scandal in our church."
On Monday, Pope Francis reaffirmed the censure.
"While Pope Francis presents a fresh face in Vatican City, breaking from papal tradition by washing the feet of two women on Holy Thursday, for example, without dismissing the mandate against the nuns such symbolism appears meaningless at best and hypocritical at worst," stated Erin Saiz Hanna, spokesperson for the Nun Justice Project and Executive Director of the Women's Ordination Conference.
"Catholics around the country have been inspired by the faith and work of the sisters and will continue to support them; we urge Pope Francis to recognize their commitment and contributions and dismiss the mandate," said Jim FitzGerald, spokesperson for the Nun Justice Coalition and Executive Director of Call To Action.
Last summer, nearly 70,000 Catholics signed a Change.org petition and hundreds organized vigils to rally around the sisters.
"The pope intentionally chose St. Francis as his namesake," continued Hanna. "St. Francis of Assisi's sacred friendship with St. Clare is well documented. He wrote a promise of mutual respect for her and for the women who joined her community. St. Francis worked collaboratively alongside his sisters rather than against them. We expect Pope Francis to do the same."
