Archbishop Sartain praises nuns on eve of Seattle march

August 13, 2012

On the eve of a protest that saw nearly 500 people march in support of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle issued a statement in praise of the work of women religious.

In April, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released its doctrinal assessment of the LCWR and named Archbishop Sartain its archbishop delegate for the LCWR’s reform.

“The Holy See and the Bishops of the United States are deeply proud of the historic and continuing contribution of women religious to our country through social, pastoral and spiritual ministries; Catholic health care; Catholic education; and many other areas where they reach out to those on the margins of society,” Archbishop Sartain said in his statement.

“Religious women have made a lasting contribution to the wellbeing of our country and continue to do so today,” he continued. “For that they deserve our respect, our support, our thanks and our prayers. I remain committed to working with leaders of the LCWR to address the issues raised by the Doctrinal Assessment in an atmosphere of prayer and respectful dialogue. I look forward to our meeting and our future discussions as we continue to collaborate in promoting consecrated life in the United States.”

The march was sponsored by I Stand With the Sisters, a local organization whose spokesperson, Gretchen Gundrum, is a psychologist and spiritual director. As an adjunct faculty member at Seattle University, a Jesuit school, Gundrum presented a workshop for the archdiocese entitled “Pastoral Care Skills for Deacons.”

 

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Further information:

• Statement by Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain (Archdiocese of Seattle)
• Seattle marchers show support for activist nuns (Seattle Times)
• I Stand With the Sisters
• Doctrinal Assessment for LCWR (USCCB)