As this year’s session of the Synod on Synodality gets underway in Rome, South African women and women religious have reached new levels of frustration with the church and Pope Francis himself. Theologian and spiritual director Annemarie Paulin-Campbell said Pope Francis has been a superb leader in many respects. “However,” she said, “when it comes Read more
The latest Catholic commotion is over the Vatican’s promotion of an accused abuser priest’s art. Not long ago, the Vatican’s chief spokesman told 350 media professionals that Vatican media would still use art by Fr Marko Ivan Rupnik, 69, currently under investigation for accusations of abusing women religious. Paolo Ruffini, 67, prefect of the Vatican’s Read more
Women religious in Africa suffer at the hands of some priests. Abuse and sexuality are taboo topics in Africa and women religious were reluctant to speak about their experiences, even in a safe environment with one of their own. Women religious and priests Sister Mary Lembo from Togo says she had to work for several Read more
A New Zealand-based theologian and academic says the vow of obedience religious people make needs redefining. Dr Rocio Figueroa made the comment after Pope Francis urged religious and consecrated women “to fight when, in some cases, they are treated unfairly, even within the church; when they serve so much that they are reduced to servitude, Read more
Over the past six years, the profile of women at Vatican events, especially women religious, has risen sharply. Since Pope Francis’s election, more women have been taking centre stage with the “parrhesia” or boldness he encourages. Today Members of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) – who lead about 450,000 women religious around the Read more
A #Nunstoo movement has gained momentum since Pope Francis last week admitted Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse of nuns. “There are some priests and also bishops who have done it,” the pontiff said last week in response to a journalist’s question during his return flight from the United Arab Emirates. Francis’s admission followed an outcry last Read more
The superiors general of 34 female orders want more influence in the Church. As part of an international umbrella organization, the International Union of Superiors General, the superiors from orders in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg want women to be admitted to all offices in the Church, including ordained offices. The German-speaking superiors general, who Read more
Women’s votes at synods of bishops should be sought and they should have a larger role, say two Rome-based umbrella groups representing about a million Catholic religious from around the world. The Union of Superiors General for priests and brothers and the International Union of Superiors General for sisters and nuns are working on a Read more
Sister Mary Pellegrino, outgoing president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, says rather than focusing on dwindling numbers, women religious should focus on the communion they have with each other. She says just concentrating on dwindling numbers diminishes every vocation, the church and even God. The smaller numbers also “reflects our fears and our Read more
Ecospirituality was the focus of The Asia-Oceania Meeting of Religious XVII which concluded March 3 in Yangon, Myanmar. There were 132 participants from 21 countries attending the meeting. The conference’s theme was”A Call for Global Ecological Conversion.” Participants explored the meaning of ecospirituality and the inherent Asian spirituality that celebrates ; “Contemplative consciousness” and “ecological Read more