Unexpected Papal Correction stuns radical nuns

Catholic Online - Mon, Apr 23rd 2012

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Saying the group is undermining Catholic teaching on issues such as homosexuality and abortion, the Vatican has assigned an archbishop to oversee its reform. The archbishop will ensure the group conforms to Catholic prayer and ritual.

The Leadership Conference of Women Catholic Religious is based in Maryland and represents about 57,000 women, which is just about 80 percent of all Catholic nuns in the US. The conference provides services to women's religious orders and performs advocacy on a myriad of social issues.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has identified the group as facing a doctrinal crisis on issues of "crucial importance" to the church.

In addition misalignment with the church on issues of homosexuality and abortion, the organization also stands in contrast to the church's teaching on euthanasia, and has provided vocal support in favor of Obama's health care plan which would use government money to fund abortions.

Furthermore, the Vatican report finds the group has been "silent on the right to life from conception to natural death, a question that is part of the lively debate about abortion and euthanasia in the United States."

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious says that it is "stunned" by the scathing Vatican report, in a statement posted online. The brief statement also asks for prayers as the group prepares a response.

The Vatican has appointed Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle to oversee the reform of the group. The review and reform process could take up to five years.