From the first days of the
new Pope’s reign things seemed different.
Traditionalists were aghast the
Francis didn’t wear an ermine cape when he first appeared on the balcony after
being elected. Then he washed the feet of women (gasp!) on Holy Thursday. One
can hope things are different…or perhaps the change is more in style than
substance. Instead of Benedict’s rule with an iron fist, is it now an iron fist
in a velvet glove? Reports are that Francis has already affirmed the
investigations into American nuns. Time will tell, but at least Maureen Fiedler
writing in the NCR questions this latest piece coming out of the
Did Pope Francis get enough information on the LCWR mandate?
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Apr. 16, 2013 NCR Today
The Leadership Conference of Women
Religious has
posted a statement from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in
which Archbishop Gerhard Müller of the doctrinal congregation said he talked to
Pope Francis about the LCWR mandate and claims the pope affirmed it.
I am frankly very skeptical of that
information. First, I doubt this issue is on the top of the new pope's agenda
or that he had much knowledge of this when he was an archbishop in Argentina
And what does "affirm" mean? Affirm what? Some general,
vague report? Did Müller give him a full explanation, talk about the opposition
to it among U.S. Catholics or give him an outline of the actions proposed? Did
he talk about the accusation that says U.S.
Did he even mention the questions
raised by LCWR at the meeting several months ago? I doubt he gave both sides.
It could be a case of the "good
'ole boys" in the Curia wanting everything to remain the same and trying
to make the new pope go along on an issue about which he knows little.
Two things: First, this is a wait-and-see situation. Second, LCWR
would be well-advised to seek a private audience with Pope Francis to explain
the full story.
