A joint final report by officials at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) and Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) was presented today. The report implements the CDF’s Doctrinal Assessment and Mandate published in April 2012.
According to a communique released by the Holy See Press Office, the report was accepted by the Congregation during a meeting earlier today. Among those present were Cardinal Gerhard Müller, Prefect of the CDF; Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle, and several members of the LCWR.
The members of the LCWR, which included Sr. Carol Zinn, SSJ, Sr. Marcia Allen, CSJ, Sr. Joan Marie Steadman, CSC and Sr. Janet Mock, CSJ noted “a spirit of cooperation among participants” throughout the three year process. The delegation also met earlier today with Pope Francis.
For his part, Cardinal Müller expressed his gratitude to those who worked in the Doctrinal Assessment as well as renewing his confidence in the LCWR.
“At the conclusion of this process, the Congregation is confident that LCWR has made clear its mission to support its member Institutes by fostering a vision of religious life that is centered on the Person of Jesus Christ and is rooted in the Tradition of the Church,” the German prelate said. “It is this vision that makes religious women and men radical witnesses to the Gospel, and, therefore, is essential for the flourishing of religious life in the Church.”
Sr. Sharon Holland, IHM, the President of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, who was unable to attend today’s meeting, said that the association was pleased with the completion of the mandate.
“Through these exchanges, conducted always in a spirit of prayer and mutual respect, we were brought to deeper understandings of one another’s experiences, roles, responsibilities, and hopes for the Church and the people it serves,” she stated. “We learned that what we hold in common is much greater than any of our differences.”
Archbishop Sartain echoed Sr. Holland’s sentiments, saying that their work during the past years was “undertaken in an atmosphere of love for the Church” as well as “profound respect for the critical place of religious life in the United States.”
“As we state in our joint final report, ‘The commitment of LCWR leadership to its crucial role in service to the mission and membership of the Conference will continue to guide and strengthen LCWR’s witness to the great vocation of Religious Life, to its sure foundation in Christ, and to ecclesial communion'”, he said.
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On ZENIT’s webpage:
For the full text of the Joint Final Report, go to: http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/joint-final-report-on-the-doctrinal-assessment-of-the-leadership-conference-of-women-religious-lcwr
