The vast majority of U.S. women religious are not complying with a Vatican request to answer questions in a document of inquiry that is part of a three-year study of the congregations. Leaders of congregations, instead, are leaving questions unanswered or sending in letters or copies of their communities' constitutions.
"There's been almost universal resistance," said one women religious familiar with the responses compiled by the congregation leaders. "We are saying 'enough!' In my 40 years in religious life I have never seen such unanimity."
The deadline for the questionnaires to be filled out and returned to the Vatican-appointed apostolic visitator, superior general of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mother Mary Clare Millea, was Nov. 20. On that day, according to an informed source, congregation leaders across the nation sent Millea letters and, in many cases, only partial answers to the questionnaire. Many women, instead of filling out the forms, replied by sending in copies of their Vatican -approved orders' religious constitutions. A religious order's constitution states its rationale, purpose and mission.
Given this immature response, I'd say the Vatican has their answer. These communities, by their disobedience, have demonstrated their extreme poor quality of life...spiritual life, that is. Their contempt for the Church is self-evident. One cannot say "I love Jesus" and then openly disobey His Church. This nearly unanimous act of childish behavior may very well be their last - can the Holy Spirit truly bless any organization that snubs the authority of the Church He protects and guides?
I think not. As Archbishop Sheen once said: "Anyone who marries the spirit of the Age is soon widowed."
