Little Rome v Rome

Pat Farrell OSF

Before I get started with the main part of this post, I have to explain the title. The city of DBQ was given the nickname of little Rome many many moons ago because of all the Catholic Churches, convents, Colleges, the Archdiocese & other Catholic institutions. Unfortunate, these days DBQ is the home of the current head of the Leadership Council of Women Religious, Sister Pat Farrell OSF. Unfortunately, the Frannies in DBQ have become a hotbed of dissent, radical feminism & New Age promoters.

So, it is no surprize to read that they LCWR are unhappy with the Vatican investigation & the subsequent report. In fact they have accused the Vatican of using a flawed process. But given that they have set up their own magesterium it is no surprized that they would attack any investigation that has brought their errors & heresies to light.

Their whole attack has been to twist the truth arround. The LCWR issued a statement after their board meeting this week. They claimed that the assessment was based on "unsubstantiated accusations and the result of a flawed process that lacked transparency." You will note that they fail to mention their unwillingness to cooperate in the 1st place. If they didn't have anything to hide then why the lack of cooperation? The process lacked their transparency, not the investigations. What they claim is a lack of transparency is actually the part of the process where the identity of those being interviewed was kept secret. The reason, to protect those who had concerns in the rank & file from retaliation from the leadership.

Part of the statement said  "The report has furthermore caused scandal and pain throughout the church community and created greater polarization." Well that is partly true. The scandal caused is by their actions & their definition of polarization is when someone stands up for the truth & shows that they are in error & need to repent. But rather than repent they polarize themselves. I do believe they are feeling pain, like that of a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar. But it is nothing when compared to the pain & damage they have caused to the faith & to those souls they have led astray.

They also attacked the sanctions, saying they were "disproportionate" & "could compromise their ability to fulfill their mission." Disproportionate only if they were actually in line with the magesterial teaching of the Catholic Church. As for compromising their mission, not could, would. & that is only becuase their mission is anything but that of their founders. Their mission these days is to promote what I mentioned at the start. & since that is contrary to what the true mission of the Catholic Church is, the Church has the right to correct those promoting something to the contrary, just like they did with Arianism, Pelagianism Modernisn, Americanism & many other heresies.

Pat Farrell OSF & Janet Mock, CSJ, Executive Director of LCWR will go to Rome on 12 June to meet with  the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith prefect Cardinal William Levada & the apostolic delegate Archbishop Peter Sartain to discuss the boards concerns. Something tells me they are not going to be happy with the outcome. Cardinal Levada & Archbishop Sartain will be gracious & welcoming, but I don't see them compromising to the point that they let the LCWR off like they want.

After they return from Rome there will be regional meetings followed by its August assembly. Then it says it will determine its response to the CDF report. Bluntly, I see that as disingenuous. They have already responded. In fact the DBQ paper headlined the front page story Sisters rebuke Vatican. Doesn't exactly sound like a future response.

Farrell did give something away in her answers to the TH reporter when she said "we must speak our truth." 1st of all she made it clear that she buys into the prevailing view of relativism, that there is no absolute truth. She is saying that all views have an equal place on the table & that her truth is just as valid as that the Catholic Church teaches is true.

The problem is, Jesus made it clear that he was "the way, the truth & the life." (John 14:6 emphasis mine.) & he promised that the Holy Spirit would lead the Catholic Church into the real truth, not some relativistic truth. "But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. For he shall not speak of himself; but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak; and the things that are to come, he shall shew you." (John 16:13) Notice the difference. Farrel is speaking her truth, not that that comes from the Holy Spirit who reveals the truth that comes from God. Her actions are more in line with what St. Paul said in 1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit manifestly saith, that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error, and doctrines of devils."

Her truth (or wisdom) is anything but. It is as St. James said "For this is not wisdom, descending from above: but earthly, sensual, devilish." (James 3:15)

I wouldn't be surprized to see the following option mentioned it the TH form a CBS report that said that There had been internal calls for the LCWR to do, disband as a Vatican-chartered organization & to regroup later as a Catholic nonprofit organization. If they do become a nonprofit organization, & try to do so in defience to Canon 216, they will just be giving more proof of their dissent & that the report was accurate. Of course, those other dissenting groups like Catholics for a Free Choice as well as the Non-Catholic Reporter will applaud them for thier bravery & being truly Catholic. If they do take this tact, hopefully some Bishop(s), like soon to retire Brustkewitz did in Nebraska with other dissident groups, make it clear they cannot call themselves Catholic.  & if they continue to be defiant, we may even see a schism, especially if the USCCB finally gets the courage to call them for it should they continue in their rebellion.

As an aside, the statement issued by the LCWR shows that their support isn't as huge as they try to make it appear. They mentioned "the thousands of messages of support as well as the dozens of prayer vigils held in numerous parts of the country." Thousands, dozens??? Doesn't sound like huge support to me, especially in light of the March protests of the HHS Mandate that took place in 144 cities sponsored by the Coalition to Stop the HHS Mandate. (Which has another 145 rallies scheduled on 8 June.)

It is clear to me that they will be going to Rome with a defiant spirit & may even be hoping that what I said about how Cardinal Leveda & Archbishop Sartain will handle it will happen. Another line in the TH article gives me the evidence of this. In talking about the upcoming Assembly of the LCWR Farrell said "Women religious in the U.S. have worked hard to develop participatory leadership that works in the face of hierarchical leadership." That doesn't exactly sound like a willingness to honest discuss things or reach a compromise. It sounds like they will accept total surrender or nothing to me.

While it may or may not happen, if these orders continue in their rebellion, the only alternative left will be to disband them. How that will play out for the elderly nuns & for those who are in disagreement with the rebelious leadership that doesn't really represent the rank & file as much as they claim, I don't know. Stay tuned.

Source: LCWR board responds to Vatican order for reform of organization

LCWR accuses Vatican investigation of using 'flawed process'

Sisters rebuke Vatican