Like a Sock in the Stomach

It is my privilege and honor to be a new member on the NETWORK Education Program board.  For forty years, NETWORK has been a faithful witness to Gospel justice in Washington, D.C.  Originally founded by 47 Catholic nuns, this organization is now a leading prophetic voice on Capital Hill.  Specifically, NETWORK (and NEP) educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic justice, peace, and care for the environment.  It is among the most prominent examples of lived Catholic Social Teaching TODAY, upholding the dignity of life through fostering solidarity with the poor and vulnerable.  After recently spending just four days with the staff and board of NETWORK, largely made up of women religious, I am inspired to continue my own work for peace and justice in the Catholic faith.

Imagine, then, my shock and grief at the release of a Vatican report, targeting the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), as well as NETWORK.  The report states that these organizations pose doctrinal threats to the Catholic faith through the promotion of "radical feminism" and through their silence on moral issues, such as homosexuality and abortion.  An archbishop will further investigate, as well as attempt to implement changes to the LCWR, which represents 80% of nuns in the United States.  Is it hyperbole to suggest that this echoes gender-based persecutions like witch hunts?  And this time, those being hunted are the very backbone of the American Catholic church: its teachers, lobbyists, pastoral associates, religious education directors, nurses, lawyers, and social workers.  For the Catholic church to attack these women is for the church to attack itself.  And a house divided amongst itself ... well, who knows?  I can only pray for dialogue instead of authoritative mandates.

Executive Director of NETWORK, Sr. Simone Campbell, has been making headlines.  If you'd like to follow the story further, listen to this great story from NPR.  And if you'd like to show your support, you can visit their homepage to become a member or get more information.

Here is the press release from NETWORK: We are deeply puzzled by the findings in the Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), which were just released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Despite its references to NETWORK, we were never asked to provide any information about our mission or activities.

Since our founding by 47 Catholic Sisters, NETWORK’s mission of lobbying, organizing and educating for social and economic justice has been rooted in the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching. We have just celebrated our 40^thanniversary, the theme of which was Faithful to the Gospel: Then and Now, and we are grateful for our close relationship with LCWR throughout our history. We honor LCWR for its service and faith commitment, and because it nurtures women religious in their commitment to their faith and religious life.

We are very grateful for the many expressions of support and hope we have received. We also hold everyone in prayer during this difficult time, and we look forward to future dialogue.

For the LCWR and NETWORK, two organizations that advocate for the persecuted and marginalized, it breaks my heart that they are now those facing persecution.  Let us pray that this passes quickly, so these lovely women can continue the Gospel work to which they are called.  The poor need them too much.