Leadership Conference of Women Religious Will Meet in St. Louis

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious will meet in St. Louis August 7th –10th with the permission of Cardinal William Levada although he regrets having given it:

Speaking of Barbara Marx Hubbard, LCWR officials have said they went ahead with their assembly in August because you gave them permission to do so. Is that accurate?

Yes, mea culpa! At the time, I hadn't been aware of who was being invited to speak or to get an award. I appreciated their concern that everything was already in place, and I said that's fine, we're OK with that. We haven't asked them to do an about-face. I feel comfortable in saying, however, that I wish they hadn't made these choices.

By that, you mean the choice to invite Hubbard?

Yes, and also to give an award to Sr. Sandra Schneiders for a view of religious life which has nothing to do with the teachings of the Second Vatican Council or the post-conciliar church.

His Eminence has evidently found it impossible to withdraw his permission but we hope this will be the last time the LCWR gives scandal this way. Archbishop Carlson so far hasn't said anything publicly about this, and we suspect he does not want to interfere with the work of the bishops assigned to assist in the renewal of the LCWR.



In April 2008, Pope Benedict XVI commissioned the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) to conduct an assessment of the  Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), an umbrella group composed of the major superiors of about 80% of religious congregations of women here in the United States. The assessment was undertaken by the CDF because of concerns with doctrinal errors found in addresses at LCWR assemblies, in their policies of Corporate dissent from the Holy See, and in evidences of radical feminism incompatible with Catholic faith.

Cardinal William Levada, then head of the CDF, met with representatives of the LCWR to give them the CDF’s final assessment. It revealed “serious doctrinal problems which affect many in Consecrated Life. On the doctrinal level, this crisis is characterized by a diminution of the fundamental Christological center and focus of religious consecrations which leads, in turn, to a loss of a ‘constant and lively sense of the Church’ among some Religious.” Many Catholics have been aware of the growing tendency among some nuns in prominent positions to posit their own consciences as their ultimate authority, even if it differs from the constant teaching of the Church. An example of this is the self-assurance with which Sr. Carol Keehan, a Sister of Charity and head of the Catholic Healthcare Association, gave public support to President Obama’s healthcare plan both before its passage in the Legislature and after it met with opposition by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

A study of the LCWR’s formation materials—formation of superiors and formation directors as well as entrants into Religious life—revealed habits of mind and communication practices more suited to Corporate boardrooms than Religious houses. A handbook entitled “Systems Thinking Handbook” presents,  in the words of the CDF, “… a neutral model of leadership that does not give attention to the responsibility which Superiors are called to exercise, namely leading sisters into a greater appreciation or integration of the truth of the Catholic faith.”

A study of speeches at the LCWR’s general assemblies over a ten-year period found that the talks “…have significant doctrinal and moral content and implications which often contradict or ignore magisterial teaching.” One speaker proposed a new model for Religious congregations, a life “beyond the Church, beyond Jesus.”

While Religious Congregations as a whole have dedicated themselves to social justice ministries and done much good there, the LCWR’s commitment to radical feminism has caused it to be silent on the evils of abortion and its convictions on homosexuality are in direct contradiction to the Church’s teachings, in that the LCWR supports homosexual behavior and lifestyle.

As a corrective measure, the CDF has appointed Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle to head a committee to implement certain changes in the LCWR, among them  (1) to revise its Statutes, plans, and programs, which will be submitted to the Holy See for approval, (2) to review and revise its formation materials, (3) to “…offer guidance in the application of liturgical norms and texts,” and (4) to build a bridge between the LCWR and the USCCB for ongoing review and support.

The secular media has and will present this action of the Holy See as “repression of nuns,” and likely a “war on women.” Those who have seen the development of error over the last two generations see this differently, as a welcome intervention. Please pray for Archbishop Carlson, Archibishop Sartain and his committee, Bishop Blair of Toledo and Bishop Paprocki of Springfield, all of whom very much need our prayers.  Archbishop Sartain gave an address to seminarians here in St. Louis, and Bishop Paprocki was Credo's speaker at the Christ the King Forum this past November.