<p><img alt= src=/sites/default/files/88/global%20sister%20report.jpg style=float:right; height:178px; margin:2px; width:284px /></p> <p><em>Demand immediate removal of sanctions against LCWR leadership </em></p> <p><em>Below is the statement from the <a href=http://nunjustice.org/ style=line-height: 1.6em;>Nun Justice Project:</a>&nbsp;of which DignityUSA is a founding member on the release of the Vatican report into the Visitation of US Women Religious congregations.</em></p> <p>It is praiseworthy that the Vatican&rsquo;s Congregation for Religious issued a generally positive report about the &nbsp;outcomes of its three year apostolic visitation of U.S. Sisters.&nbsp; The Nun Justice Project is encouraged by Sr. Sharon Holland&rsquo;s characterization of the report as &ldquo;affirming and realistic.&rdquo;&nbsp; Holland is the president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) an umbrella group representing 80 percent of U.S. women religious.</p> <p>Nevertheless the visitation process was both demeaning and a huge waste of time and energy for the Vatican and especially for the sisters who had to divert precious resources away from ministries to the marginalized just so Rome could discover what Catholics have known all along: U.S. women religious are among the most inspiring and faithful of Catholics and led the way in implementing Vatican II reforms.</p> <p>While the report is a positive first step reconciliation will not be fully accomplished until the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith removes its unjust mandate against the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.</p> <p>We renew our call to Cardinal M&uuml;ller prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) to immediately rescind the mandate and apologize to LCWR sister leaders especially in light of Pope Francis&rsquo; recent praise for diversity of theological views pluralism and <a href=http://ncronline.org/news/theology/pope-tells-vatican-theological-commission-respect-diverse-views style=line-height: 1.6em;>reading the &ldquo;signs of the times</a>.&rdquo;&nbsp; Until the mandate is removed the faithful and creative leadership of U.S. sisters remains under unjust Vatican scrutiny.</p> <p>Over the past five years the <a href=http://nunjustice.org/ style=line-height: 1.6em;>Nun Justice Project</a> organized massive support for women religious. Tens of thousands of Catholics petitioned the Vatican and participated in hundreds of public demonstrations prayer services vigils and media events. &nbsp;Their voices have been instrumental in advancing due process raising up women&rsquo;s leadership voice and promoting justice in the church.&nbsp; They will not desist until the LCWR mandate is removed.</p> <p>We believe it is important to learn what sisters themselves have to say about their experience of the Visitation. <strong><a href=http://womensordinationworldwide.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=239b46ab2a812f94bd0b2f28a&amp;id=75d031f4fe&amp;e=cdcab89525>Power of Sisterhood: Women Religious Tell the Story of the Apostolic Visitation</a></strong>&nbsp;is an inspiring narrative told from their perspective.&nbsp; For example Sr Addie Lorraine Walker reflects &quot;...&nbsp; within a context of subjugation women religious found a unique sense of liberating power along with the meaning and purpose of their prophetic voice.&quot; &nbsp;(Full review can be found <a href=http://womensordinationworldwide.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=239b46ab2a812f94bd0b2f28a&amp;id=5acef068ea&amp;e=cdcab89525 style=line-height: 1.6em;>here</a><a href=http://womensordinationworldwide.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=239b46ab2a812f94bd0b2f28a&amp;id=7949402371&amp;e=cdcab89525 style=line-height: 1.6em;>)</a></p> <p>For background on the Nun Justice Project&#39;s work addressing the LCWR mandate visit <a href=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001jITbvAOoGRg0xpFU__sLMCGYyFz4E4Sq-XFUZVvJwlpg0avZ9IYCqh-slAqPIm-Q6Q0BbMwZIwtzSyqhIog0czm7CNGF5Y-2xAmR-ri-_EYBMV1gkWcHR1LPww_3Ngz2UzMVoNTVSfIK431V8MUKzxnkNsZZaDJ3KWZXeO5MGHER9QwpCyubidgwolWMv1fH7d3G1aGAlHM09VJ_qSZmxgZ4LZCfhQ_jowDWB4aaVQvIgPWqm9MQPKd_BTbDoiQjjvxMNzIPQ4IXFu8OAGnYDdapok3k1IV9ZM21tnZBXcfw30YaTqjOtUIs_TE0maprxTl8U4bxupTzpNlcZngtJr8Fn4p6tcfXRrXiqzjaQi_2ALS1Qq7ehQ==&amp;c=ti-alG11tWSBGe4SUA2OARetN0L_Kc9UKtIDJtR4053zPkSqfIopCA==&amp;ch=kEOiTDbVv7iuyescZkVaBe2P04zNdkke9-vpLVg8kn_nlE7CQjFM9g== style=line-height: 1.6em;>nunjustice.org</a>.</p> <p><em>Other useful links:</em></p> <p>LCWR&#39;s response to the report <u><a href=https://lcwr.org/media/lcwr-responds-report-apostolic-visitation-report>https://lcwr.org/media/lcwr-responds-report-apostolic-visitation-report</a></u><br /> <br /> Text of all speeches from press conference <u><a href=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/12/16/0962/02072.html#Statement%20of%20Sr.%20M.%20Clare%20Millea%20A.S.C.J>http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/12/16/0962/02072.html#Statement%20of%20Sr.%20M.%20Clare%20Millea%20A.S.C.J</a></u><br /> <br /> Full final AV report <u><a href=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2014/12/16/0963/02078.html>http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2014/12/16/0963/02078.html</a></u></p> <p>LCWR President Sr. Sharon Holland IHM discussing her time in Rome:<u>&nbsp;</u><a href=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrnVeLwtcXU&amp;feature=youtu.be>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrnVeLwtcXU&amp;feature=youtu.be</a></p>