LCWR pledges dialogue without compromise in response to Vatican assessment

August 13, 2012

Nearly four months after the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released its doctrinal assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), the conference’s officers pledged to engage in dialogue with Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle and not to compromise its “authentic expression” of religious life.

In releasing its doctrinal assessment, the Congregation named Archbishop Sartain its archbishop delegate for the LCWR’s reform. While the Congregation’s statement refers to him as the “archbishop delegate” and charges him to “work collaboratively with the officers of the LCWR to achieve the goals outlined in this document,” the LCWR’s new statement refers to him as “the apostolic delegate appointed by CDF to oversee LCWR.”

“While acknowledging deep disappointment with the CDF report, the members proclaimed their intention to use this opportunity to explain to church leaders LCWR’s mission, values, and operating principles,” the officers said in their statement. “The assembly articulated its belief that religious life, as it is lived by the women religious who comprise LCWR, is an authentic expression of this life that must not be compromised.”

The LCWR statement added:

The assembly instructed the LCWR officers to conduct their conversation with Archbishop Sartain from a stance of deep prayer that values mutual respect, careful listening and open dialogue. The officers will proceed with these discussions as long as possible, but will reconsider if LCWR is forced to compromise the integrity of its mission.

The members reiterated the importance and value of LCWR’s mission to its members and its role as a voice for justice in the world. They urged the officers not to allow the work with CDF to absorb the time, energy, and resources of the conference nor to let it distract the conference from the work its mission requires.

“Also during the assembly, Barbara Marx Hubbard, a futurist and author, spoke on consciousness evolution where she noted that the very crises humanity is facing on a global scale require exercise of a higher level of ethical, shared commitment and social synergy to realize positive change,” the statement continued. “She observed that the crises are potential signals driving the world toward more cocreative, coevolving humanity, where people become more fully aware of their potential for healing and evolving the world in new ways, new forms and ever-expanding relationships.”

 

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Further information:

• LCWR Assembly Decides Next Steps in Response to CDF Assessment (LCWR)
• Doctrinal Assessment for LCWR (USCCB)