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California bishops come to defense of women religious in midst of apostolic visitation November 06, 2009

Responding to “questions from the faithful regarding the Apostolic Visitation of Institutes of Women Religious in the United States,” the bishops of California have issued a statement expressing deep gratitude for the work in women religious in their state, comparing their faith to that of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“During the month of October we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, the faith-filled woman of the Gospel,” the bishops begin. “As we, the Bishops of California, reflect on her generous response to God, we call to mind other faith-filled women-- the thousands of Women Religious whose presence and ministry have helped to shape the face of the Catholic Church in California. We find it appropriate to acknowledge with profound gratitude the contributions of these women of the Gospel who have lived and served in the Catholic Dioceses and Archdioceses of California.”

The bishops conclude:

We, the Bishops of California, join our people in thanking Women Religious for being our “sisters,” for their presence among us, for their witness to the richness and varied gifts of the Spirit, and for the difference they have made in our lives. They have blessed us. We assure them of our sincere support and of our grateful prayers. May our Women Religious, like Mary, continue to witness hope in our Church and in our world.

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

• California bishops express appreciation for contributions of women religious (Catholic San Francisco)
• Apostolic Visitation of Institutes of Women Religious in the United States

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• Posted by: patriot6908 - Nov. 06, 2009 4:02 PM ET USA

  There are several bishops in California who could do with a "Visitation" themselves, especially one who built his own cathedral.

• Posted by: Hal - Nov. 06, 2009 2:55 PM ET USA

  They never fail to disappoint, do they?

• Posted by: daughertyb6547 - Nov. 06, 2009 11:09 AM ET USA

  Typical bishopspeak - deserved by the many thousands of faithful women and their orders who really are imitators of the Blessed Mother, but broad enough to include the renegade others who are the only ones with something to fear from the visitation.

• Posted by: Lucius49 - Nov. 06, 2009 11:03 AM ET USA

  This undermines the Holy See and is disloyal. Despite this treachery there is the judgment of reality, most of these women religious congregations are dying and will cease to exist precisely because they abandoned the essence of religious life and lost their way. The CA bishops are willfully blind to this. The unfortunate thing is that the Holy See visitation is 30 years too late!