(Vatican Radio) Below we publish a communique issued Monday by the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith concerning a meeting with the Presidency of the Leadership
Conference of the Women Religious in the USA.
Today the Superiors of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith met with the Presidency of the Leadership
Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) in the United States of America. Most Rev.
J. Peter Sartain, Archbishop of Seattle and the Holy See’s Delegate for the Doctrinal
Assessment of the LCWR, also participated in the meeting.
As this was his first
opportunity to meet with the Presidency of the LCWR, the Prefect of the Congregation,
Most Rev. Gerhard Ludwig Müller, expressed his gratitude for the great contribution
of women Religious to the Church in the United States as seen particularly in the many
schools, hospitals, and institutions of support for the poor which have been founded
and staffed by Religious over the years.
The Prefect then highlighted the
teaching of the Second Vatican Council regarding the important mission of Religious
to promote a vision of ecclesial communion founded on faith in Jesus Christ and
the teachings of the Church as faithfully taught through the ages under the guidance
of the Magisterium (Cf. Lumen gentium, nn. 43-47). He also emphasized that
a Conference of Major Superiors, such as the LCWR, exists in order to promote common
efforts among its member Institutes as well as cooperation with the local Conference
of Bishops and with individual Bishops. For this reason, such Conferences are constituted
by and remain under the direction of the Holy See (Cf. Code of Canon Law, cann.
708-709).
Finally, Archbishop Müller informed the Presidency that he had recently
discussed the Doctrinal Assessment with Pope Francis, who reaffirmed the findings
of the Assessment and the program of reform for this Conference of Major Superiors. It
is the sincere desire of the Holy See that this meeting may help to promote the integral witness
of women Religious, based on a firm foundation of faith and Christian love, so as
to preserve and strengthen it for the enrichment of the Church and society for
generations to come.