The normally mild Deacon Greg seemed a bit off-put yesterday by the NY Times’ excellent religion writer, Laurie Goodstein and her piece on the Apostolic Visitation to Women Religious. Goodstein wrote:
The Vatican is quietly conducting two sweeping investigations of American nuns, a development that has startled and dismayed nuns who fear they are the targets of a doctrinal inquisition.
I think the line is fine. Goodstein has accurately portrayed the reservations of some American sisters (the Visitation is looking at active sisters, not contemplative nuns) to the Vatican’s scrutiny. The excellent “inspectress” Mother Mary Clare Millea, of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who is a member of both the conservative-leaning Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious and the more “progressive” Leadership Conference of Women Religious has said “It’s an opportunity for us to re-evaluate ourselves, to make our reality known and also to be challenged to live authentically who we say we are,” and there is every reason to take her at her word, unless you’re paranoid and think of her as a double-agent, subversive to her sex, or something.
A few people yesterday asked me to comment on the NY Times piece, but I really have nothing to say. The only reason this is a story at all is because of a rather notoriously unwelcoming (and yes, paranoid) email (approved-for publication but since pulled) written by the progressive IHM Sister, Sandra M. Schneiders, who wrote of the Visitation:
“I do not put any credence at all in the claim that this is friendly, transparent, aimed to be helpful, etc. It is a hostile move and the conclusions are already in. It is meant to be intimidating… We cannot, of course, keep them from investigating. But we can receive them, politely and kindly, for what they are, uninvited guests who should be received in the parlor, not given the run of the house.”
Sr. Schneiders (whose missive Rod Dreher calls “snotty”) also suggested that the Visitation would be doing “violence” to the “new form of Religious life” she and her aging sisters are “birthing…” All I can say is, they’re having the longest gestation-and-delivery I’ve ever heard of, clocking in at about 40 years, now, and it seems to be a stillbirth. These “progressive” sisters are not attracting new vocations, at all, and their orders are dying out.
I already said my piece on all this ‘way back in March, when I wrote for First Things:
Sister and her associates seem to have birthed a form of Religious Life that no longer receives “everyone as Christ” but parcels out the hospitality like upper-crust dames who will nod at the social climbers (and even condescend to having them to tea, if it will dispense with an obligation) but who will have the place fumigated once the undeserving have finally been shown the door. Sounds like she’ll count the teaspoons, too.
…
Religious Life for women in the United States will be defined in the next few decades by those orders that manage to thrive in a world where the values of chastity, humility and obedience are misunderstood. What is “new” and “it” at this moment in history – younger women taking back the habit and the breviary (even as they establish a variety of ministries in preaching, in the streets, hospitals, schools, retreat houses and elsewhere) and expressing fealty to Rome – is as counter-cultural and even radical as Schneiders and her now-establishment sisters used to be.
You can read my entire piece here. I thought I was pretty bold, but a few emailer back in March thought I should have been tougher.
Sr. Schneiders, if she is completely unwilling to conform to the stated constitutions or her own order, and the advice of the church she says she loves and serves, will undoubtedly be one of the first in line at the formation of the destined-to-be-created “American Catholic Church” which I suspect we’ll see emerging (and quickly dominating) in schism. As I’ve written elsewhere, that Oprah-approved church (which will very much resemble the imploding Church of England)
…will be a church that the majority flock to; it will be seen by many as the “victory” over that stuffy old, stubborn Church of Rome. People will go on Oprah and say “I always loved God but I never felt accepted, but this enlightened American Catholic Church tells me what I need to hear, that God loves me and that divorce, abortion and all that stuff doesn’t matter as long as I am a good person, and I AM a good person, Oprah, I AM, and now I am accepted, and (weep, weep) I feel like God finally makes sense in the world!”
“That’s right,” Oprah will declare, “there is no sin, except the sinfulness of not loving the self! God doesn’t make junk!”
Also flocking to the American Catholic Church will be this woman, also writing in the New York Times, who has “returned” to the Catholic Church despite the “brutality of the papacy” and all of Rome’s wrong-headedness on pretty much every question.
She and Sr. Schneiders will clearly glory in being able to concur with Rev. Katherine “Abortion-is-a-Blessing” Ragsdale and Rev. Nina “God-Rejoices-In-Abortion” Churchman in their “enlightened” positions.
I’m not worried about the Roman Church becoming smaller, more fervent and sued-into-poverty and harassed underground. When she is “weak,” she will be strongt. And there will always, always be the remnant.
Meanwhile:
Jesus Calls Women: The DVD! (order here)
The (contemplative) Passionist Nuns of Kentucky have clothed a radiant young novice
The excited nuns at Summit, NJ post a slide show of their renovation efforts
The Nashville Dominican Sisters are expecting one of their largest postulant classes, ever in August
The (contemplative) Benedictines of Mary welcomed three new postulants.
The Sisters of Life just clothed 6 or 7 new novices, and the Religious Sisters of Mercy are getting ready to do the same. And so it goes, proceeding apace. Hit “Nun News here to see yet another white veiled Poor Clare.
For the boys: A Benedictine monk becomes a Transitional Deacon on his way to becoming a priest, along with this brother at Conception Abbey.
11 New Dominican Postulants of all ages.
Deacon Greg: On the busy lives of priests and a must-read on the loneliness factor in their lives.
Random Catholic Stuff:
I love this: as we’re suddenly identifying the bones of St. Paul (and finding his portrait in the Catacombs of St. Thecla, who always said her bones would lie next to Paul’s), here comes what may in fact be the very FIRST Christian Church…ever!
Archaeologists have unearthed in Jordan what they believe to be the first Christian church in the world. Dating back almost 2,000 years to sometime between 33 AD to 70 AD…
Agence France Presse and The Jordan Times report that the church is thought to have sheltered the world’s earliest Christians from persecution and certain death. “We have evidence to believe this church sheltered the early Christians–the 70 disciples of Jesus Christ,” Abdul Qader al-Husan, the head of Jordan’s Rihab Centre for Archaeological Studies, told AFP.
The great John Allen: Gives you some pointers on reading Benedict’s latest encyclical, which will be released on July 7, and is entitled, Caritas in Veritate (Love in Truth). I really think Allen is the best English-writing reporter on the church beat.
The fascinating Anne Rice: interviewed at Busted Halo. Her autobiography was awfully good.
If you don’t understand how great and necessary Archbishop Timothy Dolan is to New York keep reading
Newman’s Getting Beatified
Patrick O’ Hannigan: Miracles all around us
I’m jealous: Julie got to review this Bible Dictionary, and I didn’t. Sounds great.
Obama Courting the Catholic Press.
Deal Hudson: Hates modern Catholic Hymns so much he goes to the early music-free mass on Sundays. I confess, there are weekends where I do the same thing because I can’t bear the thought of sitting through any more of it. And Deal has a point about the translations, too (I really detest the sloppy translations of the lovely Aquinas hymns in the backs of the missalettes). But he’s entirely wrong about the “worst” Catholic Hymn. That is, hands down, the one that goes…“Here I am…standing right beside you…I am here…in the face of every stranger…Here I am, I am here…” It never fails to get me thinking, “I am Sam…I like Ham on a boat…I am Sam, I like it with a goat…Sam I am, I am Sam!”
Even worse…the scourge of “applause” at the end of mass. Perhaps the congregation is trying to encourage the musicians, but I really hate it, and I wish the music ministers would take the time before mass to maybe tell people NOT to do it, as applause is not really what their “ministry” is supposed to be about. But that’s my bugaboo.
In addition to ugly Catholic Music, don’t miss the Ugly Catholic Art
Finally – this is a must check out. Just go there!
For good coverage of Catholic stuff on the ‘nets, New Advent is the place.
July 3rd, 2009 | 2:59 pm | #1
My least favorite modern hymns are those by Carey Landry. Particularly “Rain Down.” It’s incredible that song isn’t in the “music for kids” section.
I actually like a number of the more modern hymns— I grew up with them, after all— but you’ll find my taste tends towards high musicality. Unfortunately, I have been very spoiled by participation in choirs with a high level of talent*, so the middling talents of your average church choir can be a bit grating. (As in, ‘you’re singing “One Bread, One Body” for communion for the fifth month in a row; please find something else!’)
*i.e. “able to sing in parts”** or “make up acceptable harmonies” or “sing in Latin— properly.”
**We are Catholic.
July 3rd, 2009 | 3:03 pm | #2
Anne Rice’s support of Hilary Clinton makes her pro-life committment incoherent. Opposition to abortion addresses precisely the issue she cites: valuing the lives of some people more than others. The problem is just that – the unborn are not valued equally and therefore are considered disposible. Anne Rice may be “fascinating” but she’s also quite confused.
July 3rd, 2009 | 4:34 pm | #3
“We have evidence to believe this church sheltered the early Christians–the 70 disciples of Jesus Christ,” Abdul Qader al-Husan, the head of Jordan’s Rihab Centre for Archaeological Studies, told AFP.”
Wait–does this mean that CHRISTIANS also pre-date Arabs & Muslims in the Middle East? Should Christians start clamoring for a homeland, too? /sarc
As for applause at the end of Mass: I was taught (pre-VII) that it was impolite. However, it’s the custom now in our parish, usually suggested by the younger priests who thank the altar servers, ushers, lectors, EMs, choir and musicians for their efforts & contributions. I suspect their motive is to point out to the rest of the congregation how many people are involved in the Mass on Sunday. We’re a huge parish and always looking for volunteers for the various ministries. Just my take on it.
July 3rd, 2009 | 8:36 pm | #4
I am very curious what the end result of the visitation will be.
Mr. H
http://www.allhands-ondeck.blogspot.com/
July 3rd, 2009 | 11:21 pm | #5
Great Post Anchoress
I suppose I dosagree with you about a New AMerican Catholic Church being formed that woul ddominate. I don’t think it play out like that. If these people were going to make that move they would have done in the 70 or 80’s. Now they are dying out.
However there is a reason they don’t leave. You can’t have a Catholic Church without Peter and even the dissenters realize this. THis is why they stay around. If they left to become a American Anglican, a Lutheran or whatever who would pay attention to them. THey would be yesterdays news.
July 4th, 2009 | 4:19 am | #6
I usually disagree with what the Anchoress says, but I’m in hearty agreement with her praise of John Allen. He is the best beat reporter I know of, and not just on the Church beat.
July 4th, 2009 | 9:07 am | #7
You read what some these nuns say and look at some of these orders and the terrible path they have taken and it can be very discouraging.
Thank you for the links to all those very different and very wonderful orders, full of pictures and stories of joyful, smiling young woman that are still committing their lives to the service of Christ and His Church. It made my day,
July 4th, 2009 | 12:48 pm | #8
I am a cantor and if I *could* ask people to please not applaud, I most certainly would. But all I’m supposed to do is stand up and announce the songs. I do not choose the music either. I sing what I’m told to sing, no matter what I think of it.
I do try to back off the microphone as much as possible when the congregation sings. I try to proclaim the psalm clearly from the ambo, remembering that it’s the Word of God, even if it’s cloaked in some awful melody reminiscent of a showtune. I try to show the congregation when to come in for the Eucharistic acclamations, since the settings we use aren’t all that clear. And when people in the congregation applaud at the end I smile modestly and get out of the way as fast as possible.
[You sing and you KNIT! Cool! I often wonder if the pastor's couldn't say a word or put a notice in the bulletin about the applause thing. It singles out the "music ministers" for their contribution, above all others, and also puts way too much of a "show" feel to it. - admin]
July 4th, 2009 | 2:02 pm | #9
The Anchoress always posts such interesting links that were I to read them all, my dial-up connection would have the phone line tied up all day long!
Thanks for your work, Anchoress!
July 5th, 2009 | 11:10 am | #10
I agree that the clapping for the music must stop; I find it embarrassing for all concerned, especially when certain cantors receive less applause than others. What does that mean? The worship of the living God was not as “good” that Mass?
Worst modern hymn? “Ride, Jesus, Ride.” If you have not heard it, blessings are surely upon you.
July 5th, 2009 | 2:43 pm | #11
Regarding the establishment of the “American Catholic Church.” I trust it’ll happen soon and all the liberation-theology, communist-supporting, left-wing-doctrine-disingenuously-presented-as-love-for-fellow-man, illegal-immigration- (and immigrant-) supporting, we-hate-the-Pope “catholics” go there quickly. Or over to the sinking Episcopal church.
The folks to whom I refer above aren’t helpful to Holy Mother Church. They’re unsupportive of the Holy See. They’re more interested in the self than God and are less God-centered and more self-centered.
We can also add to that the Dominican Sisters who provided their own interpretation (and invention) of Scripture (and brutality vice discipline) in my Catholic elementary school in New Jersey. I think they did more to chase me away than any other scandal.
July 5th, 2009 | 3:55 pm | #12
I sing in the choir with a great director and also in a Cathedral schola. The only time we get applause is like today when they really like the Battle Hymn of the Republic which is sung when Mass is over.
To me the clapping indicates that the congregation has lost the sense of Mass being a sacred ritual.
Back in the day, the Pope in the late 1800s had to forbid florid Masses like Verdi wrote because people were coming to church just to hear the opera singers and instruments.
Notice that at the Vatican, the more florid Masses are presented in concerts and not at Mass.
In Re: the visitation. There was a very interesting 2003 article in America by woman religious Catholic academic calling for a assessment and re-evaluation of the direction the various orders were headed. Sr. Patricia McCann particularly wrote about the incorporation of New Age and drifting away from tradition. She saw a real need for clarity and defining what it means to be a sister in the various orders. It would be interesting to know what she thinks of the forthcoming visitations.
http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=3067
July 6th, 2009 | 1:12 pm | #13
Re: applause after music. This is a problem in Protestant churches as well (at least mine). Our music director has put notices in the church bulletin, newsletter, and made announcements during the service asking the congregation not to applaud. For a long time, the congregation applauded after the choir’s presentation, but the applause often sounded forced – not a good feeling for any choir member. Now, if the choir’s anthem is particularly moving, some members of the congregation have taken to quietly saying “Amen!” after the anthem. It is very hard to ‘break’ some parents from applauding after the children’s choir sings, but the kids are being instructed as to why this is not appropriate and they will likely instruct the parents.
By the way, Anchoress, I love your blog – it is a regular stop of mine. As a Protestant not well versed in Catholic ways, I enjoy your religious discussions and have learned many things that I can apply to my own faith. Thanks!!
July 6th, 2009 | 6:50 pm | #14
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