News

Dominican congregation apologizes for nun’s work as abortion clinic volunteer November 04, 2009

The Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation has issued a statement regretting the “public scandal” caused by Sister Donna Quinn’s work as a volunteer escort at an abortion clinic in Illinois.

“We as Sinsinawa Dominican women are called to proclaim the Gospel through the ministry of preaching and teaching to participate in the building of a holy and just society,” the statement notes. “As Dominican religious, we fully support the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding the dignity and value of every human life from conception to natural death. We believe that abortion is an act of violence that destroys the life of the unborn. We do not engage in activity that witnesses to support of abortion.”

In addition, the congregation’s leaders have “informed Sr. Donna that her actions are in violation of her profession as a Dominican religious. They regret that her actions have created controversy and resulted in public scandal. They are working with Sr. Donna to resolve the matter appropriately.”

ChicagoCatholicNews.com, a website founded by a former Chicago Sun-Times reporter and editor, is reporting that three bishops-- Cardinal Francis George of Chicago (where Sister Quinn resides), Bishop J. Peter Sartain of Joliet (where the abortuary is located), and Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison (where the Sinsinawa Dominicans are headquartered)-- will soon confer about Sister Quinn.

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Public Statement of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation (Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa)
• Religious order rebukes Chicago-area nun who volunteers at abortion clinic (ChicagoCatholicNews.com)
• Nun Abortion Clinic Escort Reprimanded - Dominican Congregation Apologizes for Scandal (LifeSiteNews.com)

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• Posted by: carlkrebs2165 - Nov. 10, 2009 12:49 PM ET USA

  I would argue that she has incurred a latae sententiae excommunication by materially participating in abortion. Maybe the bishops involved will point this out to her and her congregation. If you look at their website, you can't really tell they're Catholic. I wonder what they mean by heterosexism :) .

• Posted by: hartwood - Nov. 04, 2009 9:56 PM ET USA

  This nun has been speaking out "for decades" in favor of abortion and is a coordinator for NCAN... These Dominicans must be deaf,dumb,and blind and the whole bunch of them needs to be shown the door.

• Posted by: joeg3608 - Nov. 04, 2009 6:10 PM ET USA

  Obviously this Sister does not accept the teachings of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church. She should be shown the front door of her convent and told to leave at once. If she makes a sincere change of mind and heart then whe should be readmitted.

• Posted by: Gaby - Nov. 04, 2009 2:36 PM ET USA

  WOW! Did they really not know what this nun was up to?!? Or was it only the heat that produced action? The apology sounds genuine -none of that couched language, inuendo, half-truths, etc.