Understanding the Vatican call for reform of the LCWR

by Sister Julie on April 28, 2012 in news on the nunfront News and commentary about the doctrinal assessment of LCWR by the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith abounds. How to understand the Vatican call for reform of the LCWR? Weve had so much input coming from both professional and armchair commentators that it can be challenging to remember that all the buzz (no matter how well articulated or compelling) is not the story. While we might resonate with what commentator says or writes, we cannot hang our understanding on it without short-shrifting our own due diligence. Part of the problem, however, lies in the fact that precious few of us have expertise in all the areas involved in this particular event. The relationship of U.S. Catholic sisters and the Church which includes the people, the hierarchy, the teaching, the tradition, the faith is a complex one which intersects theology, religious life, authority, history, politics, sociology, and other spheres of life. This relationship, however, resides ultimately in the sphere of God, the one in whom each of us lives and moves and has our being. It is out of this place in God where each of us is called to understand and engage this event. What does this mean? 1. First, understanding and engaging the Vatican call for reform of LCWR means letting go of the devil. Our human tendency is to demonize that with which we do not agree with or by which weve been hurt. This devilish language is laced into many a conversation and commentary and we must make it an act of our will to have no part in it. This does not mean that we agree with everything or that we cannot give voice to our experience. Clearing out the devil gives us space to be open to grace. 2. Second, it means taking to heart WWJD. Scripture reminds us: Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus (Phil 2:5). We must turn first to God before we turn to our favorite news outlet, commentators, and bloggers. Thats where our grounding is lest we become mere aggregators of others agendas. Praying with and reflecting on this in light of the Gospel must be our home page. 3. Third, it means extending our prayer to theological reflection. Theological reflection is a way of doing theology that starts from the experiences of life and leads to searching in faith, for deeper meaning, and for the living God. However, it is deciding how to live out of this reflective search that is the critical intention of the process of theological reflection. (Sister Kathleen McAlpin in Ministry That Transforms: A Contemplative Process of Theological Reflection) Read more at What is Theological Reflection?

4. Fourth, it means putting faith into action. Our faith is not a museum. It is alive with the breath of God. This means that our prayer and reflection transform us and impel us to engage with the world. In this particular context that means engaging the primary sources of the doctrinal assessment document as well as the statements of LCWR and the CDF-appointed Delegate Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle. It also means engaging in conversation with others, including the myriad of commentators and bloggers, both those we tend to agree with and those we tend not to agree with. Click here for helpful guidelines in engaging with articles, news stories, blog posts, etc. Let us hold all who are involved in and affected by the doctrinal assessment in our prayers. We pray that the Spirit continue to breathe new life in each one of us!
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