OVO

Three Catholic women’s communities in Washington state are being investigated by the Vatican. They were chosen for review as part of an extensive investigation into American nuns. The Vatican says it’s following up on complaints of feminism and activism. The Archdiocese of Seattle says the Adrian Dominicans in Woodway, the Renton Sisters of Providence and the Tacoma Dominicans are on the list. Sister Joyce Cox is the Archbishop’s Delegate for Religious. She says it’s not clear what this latest development — or the entire investigation — means.  Cox: “Ordinarily visitations are made because there is something of great concern, or some place of scandal or not having integrity to the origins of our life.”  But Cox says none of that applies.  Cox: “Not one of our religious communities in our leadership whom we’ve elected has stood out to speak against the Church. The leadership has never spoken out in negative ways.” [...]

It’s not clear why the local orders are being singled out. The Renton Sisters of Providence run a women’s transition house. The Tacoma Dominicans call themselves risk takers. They work to end human trafficking. The Vatican questionnaire also asks about the age of current members and the state of their housing. The Adrian Dominicans in Woodway are down to about 30 elderly members. Church investigators say they’ll report to Rome next year.

Article continues.  Thank heaven that the Vatican is starting to get serious about the scandals surrounding the Roman Catholic Church.  What better way to route out the sheltering of child rapists on orders of the Pope than by sending surveys to obedient nuns in Washington State?  The Pope has a history of getting his priorities straight and acting accordingly.  Franciscan monk Leonardo Boff authored a book in which he said “A cardinal like J. Ratzinger, who publishes an official paper stating that the only true Church is the Catholic Church, and the others aren’t even churches, that the only legitimate religion is Catholicism and the others don’t even possess a faith, being just beliefs, perpetrates religious terrorism, besides being a grave theological error.” For this and his human rights activism, Cardinal Ratzinger – now Pope Benedict – silenced Brother Boff for a year.  According to Wikipedia, theological formation schools were forbidden from using the Catholic Church’s organization and grounds to teach Liberation Theology under Cardinal Ratzinger’s influence.  I’m no fan of Marx or Jesus, but the good works of religious secularists remain good works.  Feed the hungry and visit those in prison for the worship of the Lord or for the furtherance of historical materialism, or maybe because it’s a decent thing to do, just make sure you lighten the load of others when you can.

Although Pope Benedict only confirmed then inherited the problem of sheltering of child rapists on orders of the Pope, rather than inventing it, he is in a unique position to do something about it.  He could simply renounce the Crimine Solicitaciones. His Holiness recently said sheltering of child rapists on orders of the Pope “is born from the sins within the church,” which comes pretty close to admitting error. Unfortunately for his job security, it also comes close to admitting Papal error. Remember, this is sheltering of child rapists on orders of the Pope – an infallible pope. Here’s what Vatican II had to say about the Pope making mistakes: “[The Pope] enjoys in virtue of his office, when, as the supreme shepherd and teacher of all the faithful, who confirms his brethren in their faith (Luke 22:32), he proclaims by a definitive act some doctrine of faith or morals. Therefore his definitions, of themselves, and not from the consent of the Church, are justly held irreformable, for they are pronounced with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, an assistance promised to him in blessed Peter.”  Never you mind that they’ve changed the rules one or two or three or more times in the past.  The Pope’s definitions of faith or morals are irreformable.  Until they reformable.  Then – it’s a miracle!  A new revelation!  Thank you Jesus!

Whatever it takes to stop sheltering child rapists on orders of the Pope is okay by me.  I use reason and scorn of the Roman Catholic Church.  What do you use?