Editorial

In the Catholic Church today there is no doubt that nuns are a test case on a grand scale.  The hierarchy may succeed in drying up or greatly diminishing the nuns’ apostolates, including the LCWR.  The Church will lose much of its heart and countless gifts that we have been blessed with in our lifetime. There will be a rending of garments among Catholic lay people such as we have not ever seen in the United States.  And there will be financial fallout.

Will all this come to pass?

The hierarchy could wisely withdraw from this imbroglio of their own making.  They would save face and go a long way toward rebuilding their credibility in the United States.  They could also borrow from Gamaliel, a Pharisee “respected by all the people,” who warned the Sanhedrin about the Apostles:  “Be careful…Let them go… for if their endeavor is of human origin it will destroy itself.  But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy it; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” 
The interrogation of the U.S. sisters looks to have been carefully planned with a stamp that reads “However long it takes.”  Is that the hierarchy’s perception of the laity’s staying power?  Could be.

In the last 40 years or so, the Catholic Church in the U.S. has lost several million members—most recently on the watches of our current bishops and priests.  We’ve not experienced any major effort to win back these people and keep the ones we have.  In any other large, megasized organization these men, including their CEO, (the Pope) would have been summarily fired and they themselves investigated.
Through his appointments and his policies, the Pope has been no friend to U.S. Catholics.  Liturgical bullies have foisted upon us an awkward and sometimes incomprehensible translation of the Mass.  But this pales in comparison to the most heinous crime, the child sexual abuse plague which casts a dirty shadow over thousands of upright, holy and brave priests and a few bishops.

Now is the time for these clergy to support the sisters whenever and however they can.  We, the laity, stand with our sisters.  We resist the misuse of hierarchical power.  

                                                                                                         17 September 2012