Controversial sisters battle Holy See over reforms

LCWR president to meet with Vatican June 12 in Rome to discuss the organization's concerns

Jenner Mathiasen, center, of Seattle takes part in a vigil outside St. James Cathedral in Seattle May 8 to support sisters against the Vatican's call for a reform of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Stephen Brashear / CNS.

The national board of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an umbrella group for many Catholic sisters in the U.S., will send their president to Rome to meet with Cardinal William J. Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, about the reforms that have been subjected upon the organization. Carol Zimmermann of Catholic News Service explains:

The national board of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious June 1 said it feels the assessment that led to a Vatican order to reform the organization "was based on unsubstantiated accusations and the result of a flawed process that lacked transparency."

The LCWR board called the sanctions "disproportionate to the concerns raised" and said they "could compromise" the organization's ability "to fulfill their mission."

"The report has furthermore caused scandal and pain throughout the church community and created greater polarization," the LCWR said in a statement released the morning after the board concluded a special meeting in Washington May 29-31, held to respond to an eight-page doctrinal assessment issued to LCWR by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Read the full story at The B.C. Catholic website.