Thread: US Catholic Nuns gone rogue

Originally Posted by jackalope

That's interesting, and also my impression in many cases, which is why in my earlier comment I noted that they didn't characterize how the priesthood leaned, and I was curious.

Hard to tell. The church maintains serious discipline over the ways its ordained servants speak in public. There's probably a broad range of opinions, as with any other profession.

I have seen documentaries about how a Priest gets older and not able to keep up with his duties he is allowed to retire with a Pension.

Nun's too old are basically told to leave the Church and receive NO pension. often end up in State run Nursing Homes.

I have heard of a few churches that buck that and provide the nuns with comforts and a home, normally their old room at their Church. But those were few.

These women gave up their whole adult lives thinking they would do God's work. Only to be slandered by Bishops and treated like property.

I am no Christian but still find that revolting.

They have been told they are Christs bride's...one would think they would be held in higher regard then.

Originally Posted by Rasselas

Maybe not. When I lived in rural Kentucky, in a county of 30K persons and 32 Baptist churches, the local priest (the one Catholic parish) was probably the most liberal person in the county, save his stance on abortion.

Everything is relative.

Your personal anecdote notwithstanding, it can't be very difficult to seem liberal when completely surrounded by Southern Baptists.






Note: Back in the day, I spent some time in rural Tennessee (Bell Buckle), and even attended a Baptist church with friends. In my opinion, "regressive" definitely applies. But of course, this is just my personal anecdote.

Originally Posted by Rasselas

Hard to tell. The church maintains serious discipline over the ways its ordained servants speak in public. There's probably a broad range of opinions, as with any other profession.

I think, but am not certain, that the male leadership of the Church, is not only more conservative than its flock, but more conservative than the general priesthood. The hierarchy controls who gets 'promoted', and I suspect they promote like-minded men.

Originally Posted by angryamerican

I have seen documentaries about how a Priest gets older and not able to keep up with his duties he is allowed to retire with a Pension.

Nun's too old are basically told to leave the Church and receive NO pension. often end up in State run Nursing Homes.

I have heard of a few churches that buck that and provide the nuns with comforts and a home, normally their old room at their Church. But those were few.

These women gave up their whole adult lives thinking they would do God's work. Only to be slandered by Bishops and treated like property.

I am no Christian but still find that revolting.

They have been told they are Christs bride's...one would think they would be held in higher regard then.

On the bolded part, do you have any backup for that? In my experience, nuns retired within the 'nunning community' (heh, can't think of the right word), and were provided for in old age, just as retired priests were.

Originally Posted by Steam Heat

Everything is relative.

Your personal anecdote notwithstanding, it can't be very difficult to seem liberal when completely surrounded by Southern Baptists.






Note: Back in the day, I spent some time in rural Tennessee (Bell Buckle), and even attended a Baptist church with friends. In my opinion, "regressive" definitely applies. But of course, this is just my personal anecdote.

I agree with you, but this priest, from the one homily I heard him speak, was more liberal than *I* am.

Originally Posted by Rasselas

I agree with you, but this priest, from the one homily I heard him speak, was more liberal than *I* am.

He ain't never getting promoted. LOL


Andrew Greely, author, is the same. The bishops have big problems with him.

Originally Posted by jackalope

On the bolded part, do you have any backup for that? In my experience, nuns retired within the 'nunning community' (heh, can't think of the right word), and were provided for in old age, just as retired priests were.

Recent stories seem to indicate that the leadership of the church is leading it in an even more conservative direction. These uppity women are getting in the way.

I've seen comments recently that suggest this organzation represents mostly women in 'mid-career,' while both older and younger women religious in the US are more in line with the bishops. Hard to say, though.

Here's an anecdote. I have friends who teach at an all-girls Catholic school run by one order of nuns. The local bishop objected to one of the books they were teaching in the school. This complaint went through the proper channels, and the reply was 'We will study this matter.'

Said one of the nuns in the order: "We can study things for many years." This sort of conflict we see playing out now is not recent, and it follows a generation of nuns finding their way into the wider world in active service rather than passive prayer. I've even seen suggestions that it's really about nuns differing with the church hierarchy specifically on women's issues (contraception, for example) and it's a push back against calls for the ordination of women, etc.

Originally Posted by Rasselas

I agree with you, but this priest, from the one homily I heard him speak, was more liberal than *I* am.

That's good to hear. There may be hope for Catholics, yet.

Originally Posted by Rasselas

Recent stories seem to indicate that the leadership of the church is leading it in an even more conservative direction. These uppity women are getting in the way.

I've seen comments recently that suggest this organzation represents mostly women in 'mid-career,' while both older and younger women religious in the US are more in line with the bishops. Hard to say, though.

Here's an anecdote. I have friends who teach at an all-girls Catholic school run by one order of nuns. The local bishop objected to one of the books they were teaching in the school. This complaint went through the proper channels, and the reply was 'We will study this matter.'

Said one of the nuns in the order: "We can study things for many years." This sort of conflict we see playing out now is not recent, and it follows a generation of nuns finding their way into the wider world in active service rather than passive prayer. I've even seen suggestions that it's really about nuns differing with the church hierarchy specifically on women's issues (contraception, for example) and it's a push back against calls for the ordination of women, etc.

Interesting on the older and younger part.

And ... funny! on the 'we can study things for many years' anecdote