Commentators offer a range of explanations for last week’s Vatican “assessment” charging a group that includes the largest number of US Catholic sisters, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) with “serious doctrinal problems” and “radical feminism.”
Bishops Play Church Queens as Pawns
COMMENTARY
IT is an astonishing thing that historians will look back and puzzle over, that in the 21st century, American women were such hunted creatures.
Even as Republicans try to wrestle women into chastity belts, the Vatican is trying to
Vatican report attempts mere excuse not explanation
COMMENTARY
RITE & REASON: THE REPORT on the apostolic visitation reflects an exercise in irrelevancy. The visitors listened but did they hear? The report includes the standard apologies, blame for the bishops and religious superiors, and praise for all the
The Case for Gay Acceptance in the Catholic Church
The death penalty no longer applies to people who divorce or sleep with women during their periods, as described in the Bible. So why can’t attitudes on homosexuality change as well?
COMMENTARY
On St. Patrick’s Day I had the pleasure
Contraception’s Con Men
COMMENTARY
By a revolting combination of con men and fanatics, the current primary race has become a demonstration that the Republican party does not deserve serious consideration for public office. Take the controversy over contraceptives. American bishops at first opposed
Catholic League: Jewish Rabbis Even Greater Abusers Than Catholic Priests
COMMENTARY
Bill Donohue, the head of the pedophile priests supporting Catholic League, in an attempt to deflect attention from the regular, serious, and unresolved sexual transgressions, sexual assault, and child rape within the Catholic Church, today pointed the finger at
Thoughts on the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter
COMMENTARY by Lisa Fullam
The New York Times reported on the launch January 1 of the new ordinariate (like a diocese, but nation-wide in scope,) for Anglicans wishing to swim the Tiber and become Catholics. (For more about the ordinariate,
Roman Catholic Church free — but wrong — to reject adoptions by gay parents
COMMENTARY
Roman Catholic bishops are refusing to budge: They’d rather end their adoption services in several states than accept gay parents.
And that’s a real shame. Other religious groups that don’t recognize same-sex marriage have been willing to compromise —



