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For Immediate Release
June 1, 2012
Nicole Sotelo: 773.404.0004 x285
Erin Saiz Hanna: 401.588.0457
Thousands of U.S. Catholics Rally in Support of Nuns;
Commend LCWR on Prayerful Discernment
Washington, DC – Today, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), an umbrella group representing 80% of the 57,000 nuns in the United States, released a statement regarding the recent Vatican mandate stating "the sanctions imposed were disproportionate to the concerns raised and could compromise their ability to fulfill their mission." The statement continued, "the board believes it is imperative that these matters be addressed by the entire church community in an atmosphere of openness, honesty, and integrity."
"We commend the sisters on their prayerful discernment of the Vatican’s mandate. It speaks to the faithfulness of the sisters and the reason why Catholics across the country continue to stand behind them," stated Jim FitzGerald, spokesperson for the Nun Justice Project and Executive Director of Call To Action.
Since the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith first announced its crackdown on LCWR and U.S. religious communities, thousands of faithful Catholics have rallied in support of the nuns in over 50 vigils across the country and more the 52,000 have signed the Change.org ‘Support the Sisters’ petition organized by the Nun Justice Project.
"We are calling for the mandate against the sisters to be rescinded," stated Erin Saiz Hanna, spokesperson for the Nun Justice Project and Executive Director of the Women’s Ordination Conference. "At this time in our church’s history when the Vatican is beset by scandal and the U.S. church hierarchy is on trial for sex abuse, church officials should stop trying to reform the nuns and reform themselves, instead."
As LCWR continues to deliberate their response prior to their meetings with the Holy See on June 12 and leading up to their annual conference this August, Catholics will continue stand in solidarity with the sisters.
The Nun Justice Project plans to reach its goal of 57,000 signatures, one name for every U.S. woman religious, by the time they deliver the petition to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops during their annual meeting in Atlanta on June 13. In addition, Catholics nationwide will deliver letters in support of nuns to their local diocesan offices.
Catholics are encouraged to redirect their Peter’s Pence contribution, an annual second collection made by Roman Catholics toward the expenses of the Holy See normally made at the end of June, to local women religious communities. To date, over 34K has already been pledged in support of the sisters.
"We will continue to support the sisters in the months ahead through our prayer and faithful witness. They have supported us and now it’s our time to support them," concluded FitzGerald.
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The Nun Justice Project is a grassroots movement supported by the following organizations: American Catholic Council, Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church , Call To Action, Catholics for Choice, CORPUS, DignityUSA, FutureChurch, New Ways Ministry, Quixote Center, RAPPORT, Voice of the Faithful, WATER: Women’s Alliance for Theology Ethics and Ritual, and Women’s Ordination Conference.
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