Sister Elizabeth Johnson: ‘The Waste of Time on This Investigation is Unconscionable’

Religion News Service ^ | 8/15/14 | Heidi Hall

[marshmallow]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) A nun who drew U.S. Catholic bishops’ ire with what they consider radical feminist writings fired back Friday (Aug. 15), saying their investigation of women’s orders is wasteful when financial mismanagement and sexual abuses are being covered up.

Sister Elizabeth Johnson, a theology professor at Fordham University, accepted the Leadership Conference of Women Religious’ top award and then lambasted bishops for criticism of her book “Quest for the Living God,” saying it appears they’ve never read it.

“To this day, no one, not myself or the theological community, the media or the general public knows what doctrinal issue is at stake,” she told the Nashville assembly of about about 900 sisters representing 80 percent of the nation’s nuns.

In her 20-minute acceptance speech, followed by a standing ovation, Johnson suggested the conference’s support of her work prompted the investigation by the church’s top enforcer of orthodoxy, the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith.

Johnson’s book includes chapters on black and feminist theology and interfaith engagement. She said book sales skyrocketed after the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops criticized it.

The LCWR has been undergoing a Vatican-ordered doctrinal investigation since 2009. In 2012, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ordered nun’s group to reform its statutes and appointed Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain to oversee changes, including a rewrite of the group’s charter and approval of all speakers at future assemblies.

In April, a top Vatican official warned the LCWR that in recognizing Johnson it would provoke the Holy See.

“When the moral authority of the hierarchy is hemorrhaging due to financial scandals and many bishops who … cover up sexual abuse of children, a cover up that continues in some quarters to this day, and thousands are drifting away from the church … the.......

[Biggirl]

Very early this morning, I got up at about 3:15 AM, could not sleep. Good thing I went to the vigil mass last night. Turned on the tv and watched a bit of the closing mass for the Asian Catholic Youth gathering in South Korea. Beautiful country South Korea.

While I drink my first cup of coffee this morning, while the camera was panning around, had seen what was a small group of young adult women in traditional religious habits, I believe South Korean.

God Bless the young people of the Church who are showing this baby boomer the NEED to WAKE UP and REDISCOVER ONES FAITH!

[Biggirl]

Thank-you also for your sharing and God Bless!

[Biggirl]

I think what will happen is that those sisters who do not obey the directives of the Church will be let go of their vows.

Another possible answer could be that those orders that have become too radical as you have refered to could end up be dissolved and instead be rebuilt on the CONDITION that TRADITIONAL practices be brought back such as WEARING a habit and the enforcement of the vows.

[Biggirl]

Just put eib tide on mental ignore.

[NKP_Vet]

One of my friends from a few years ago was a registered nurse at the VA hospital. She asked me what faith I was and I told her that I going to RCIA classes and that I was going to become Catholic. She said “why Catholic”. I told her why and she said “well let me tell you honey, I was born and raised Catholic and went to all the classes when I was a kid and graduated from a Catholic School”. Then the big “but” came. She said “but when I started to college and got out in the real world I knew the Catholic Church was not for me. I am so much happier now knowing that I am the one that decides my own fate, there is no one up above that is going to take care of me, it’s up to me and no one else”. She goes on to say it was so uplifting to her that she didn’t have to “feel guilty” anymore because she only had herself to blame if something went wrong. So needless to say she was a very liberal pro-abortion democrat, who occasionally emails me and thinks the sun rises and sets on Obama. Sort of funny because last year she got real sick and was emailing all her friends asking for prayers and talking about her “guardian angel”.

[NKP_Vet]

Some of the finest young men that I had the pleasure of working with in the military were lifelong Catholics that had a full 12 month Catholic education. One in particular stands out in my mind. He was as sharp as a tack, went to Mass regularly, every day if he could, and never badmouthed anyone, always the polite gentleman. We would go to the mess hall for lunch and he would always say Grace before eating. Most of the guys would just stare at him. He would politely bow his head and say a quiet prayer before eating. He drank water with his meals, ate no desert, just the basic meat and vegetables. He stayed in tip-top shape and was the fastest 10K runner on the base. I asked him once about growing up and his influences. Without hesitating he said “my parents and the nuns at the school I attended”. He retired at 20 years as a Chief Master Sergeant at 20 years. Quite an accomplishment.

[ebb tide]

That’s the third time now. When will you stick to your promises?

[cloudmountain]

Some of the finest young men that I had the pleasure of working with in the military were lifelong Catholics that had a full 12 month Catholic education.
One in particular stands out in my mind. He was as sharp as a tack, went to Mass regularly, every day if he could, and never badmouthed anyone, always the polite gentleman. We would go to the mess hall for lunch and he would always say Grace before eating. Most of the guys would just stare at him. He would politely bow his head and say a quiet prayer before eating. He drank water with his meals, ate no desert, just the basic meat and vegetables. He stayed in tip-top shape and was the fastest 10K runner on the base.
I asked him once about growing up and his influences. Without hesitating he said “my parents and the nuns at the school I attended”. He retired at 20 years as a Chief Master Sergeant at 20 years. Quite an accomplishment.

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I'll say. Kudos for him!