Support LCWR with a Christmas Card to the Nuncio and the Bishops!
The Nun Justice Project, a coalition of Catholic church reform and social justice organizations including New Ways Ministry, is urging Catholics to send Christmas cards to leading prelates in support of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR).
Launched after a harsh Vatican critique of LCWR in early 2012, the Nun Justice Project asks the nuns’ supporters to write with gratitude for the prophetic ministry of the American sisters and to request a withdrawal of the Vatican-imposed mandate against LCWR.
The Project is targeting the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganó, and the three bishops charged with implementing Vatican-mandated reforms to LCWR, Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle, Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo, and Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, IL. You can add your support through this link.
As reported previously on Bondings 2.0, with links provided below, the Vatican’s critique of the nuns partially emerged out of their support for LGBT persons and organizations. Specifically named by the Vatican was New Ways Ministry, which has benefited greatly in its 35 years from the unequivocal and sustained support of communities of women religious.
The women religious of LCWR were one of those things the staff of New Ways Ministry was most thankful for this year and we stand with the sisters in these challenging times. New Ways Ministry strongly encourages Catholics and LGBT advocates to write to the bishops and express your support for the nuns who have adamantly struggled for equality within the Church and society.
–Bob Shine, New Ways Ministry
Previous posts relating to LCWR:
August 11, 2012: LCWR Will Continue to Work Towards Dialogue With Vatican Officials
July 22, 2012: LCWR President Offers “Fresh Air” on Vatican Challenge to Nuns
June 21, 2012: Support the Sisters by Re-Directing Peter’s Pence Donations
June 12, 2012: Report on LCWR Meeting With the CDF at the Vatican
June 1, 2012: LCWR Responds to the Vatican with a Vision of Equality, Hope, and Dialogue
May 28, 2012: Support Our Sisters: Pray at a Vigil!
May 11, 2012: Sister Jeannine, Cardinal Ratzinger, New Ways Ministry, and Solidarity with LCWR
May 1, 2012: Round-up of Actions and Commentary on LCWR
April 23, 2012: Message to Nuns: ‘Be Not Afraid’
April 22, 2012: Comments on LCWR Action from National Catholic LGBT Organizations
April 21, 2012: Support for U.S. Nuns Spreads Quickly Among Catholics and Others
April 20, 2012: Can There Really Be “Collaboration” Between the Vatican and LCWR?
April 19, 2012: Sister Joan Chittister & Sister Simone Campbell Respond to Vatican Action Against U.S. Nuns
April 18, 2012: Vatican Action Against U.S. Nuns; New Ways Ministry’s Response
Here’s the message that the entire world should really be sending to these men:
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Opposing social justice is a mortal sin in the Roman Catholic church.
Therefore, please publish an independent public audit showing how much money the Vatican, Roman Catholic dioceses, Knights of Columbus, and affiliates have spent, worldwide, over the last two decades to oppose social justice, human rights, and civil rights for LGBT people (both Catholic and non-Catholic).
Parishioners need this disclosure to understand where their money has gone, and where it will be going in the future. And the general public needs this disclosure to understand the extent of efforts by Catholic clergy to impose Vatican rules on non-Catholic citizens through civil laws that apply equally to everyone.
In the meantime, please:
(1) Rescind your mandate to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
(2) Advise of your timetable for releasing the requested audits.
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