Translate

Saturday, October 28, 2017

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE ARE SO FEW SISTERS TODAY, COMPARED TO 1967, READ THIS LONG ARTICLE ABOUT A SURVEY OF SISTERS IN 1967


Unlocked: 1967 survey of 140,000 US sisters now accessible to all

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

"I think that sisters who feel called to do so ought to be witnessing to Christ on the picket line and speaking out on controversial issues, as well as performing with professional competence among their lay peers in science labs, at conferences and on the speaker's platform."

Imagine if these strong, intelligent women has been able to speak and act out before. We might be in a much better place now.

rcg said...

Indeed

TJM said...

Quite frankly, the Sisters did far more objective good as teachers and nurses. When they became activists, they lost their way. I loved the Sisters who taught me before Vatican Disaster II. They were far more influential in forming my Catholic Faith than the priests of my parish. Today, the few remaining Sisters in the community that taught me are left-wing loonies, and I pity them. They were once a great religious community. I wouldn't allow them to teach my grandchildren if they were still in the business of teaching.

Anonymous said...

Bee here:
Anonymous at October 28, 2017 at 2:54 PM said,

"Imagine if these strong, intelligent women has been able to speak and act out before. We might be in a much better place now."

That doesn't make sense. Shortly after the poll was taken they DID speak out, en masse. Why didn't that bring about the "better place" you think we "might" be in now?

I wish they had been like the wise virgins and held onto their oil: kept their habits, their rules of life, their vocations, kept quiet and prayed. THEN I think we might be in a much better place now.

Activism is not holiness. God asks us to become holy, even as He is holy.

God bless.
Bee

Anonymous said...

The Levite and the priest who passed by the man beaten on the road to Jericho kept quiet and prayed.

The ACTIVIST Samaritan - the one who was hated and feared - was neighbor to the man who was in need.

Gene said...

Applying modern political terms like "activist" to the First Century milieu is stupid.

Rood Screen said...

By abandoning both their corporate identity and the Works of Mercy, these women, presumably suffering from same-sex attraction, became nothing more than social activists for secular humanism. To what end?

Anonymous said...

"... presumably suffering from same-sex attraction,..."

Projection, anyone?

TJM said...

Gene, that is just classic Kavanaugh, misappropriating the scripture for his political purposes.

Anonymous said...

Call him "activist," or call him "the one who does what is right," or call him "the Samaritan who made the inactive Jews who passed by look foolish." or call him "neighbor" - it doesn't matter.

He's the hero of the story.

If calling him an "activist" is "stupid," the saying the wise virgins "kept their habits" is equally so, no?


rcg said...

I don't buy it. "Activism" is not the issue, per se, and not the correct name for the actions of the Good Samaritan, although the conventional understanding of it would fit the change that happened to many of the orders. Activism is merely presumptuousness by another name, the conceit of believing one uniquely knows what God wants done specifically. In the case of the nuns of old they were cut adrift from their Rock and given pop versions of psychology, sociology, and economics to replace it.

Gene said...

Wrong again, Kavanaugh. Christ is the focus of the story, as the Samaritan is a type of Christ. Also, Christ is no hero. It was popular, for a while, back in the 60's to try to make Jesus into some kind of existential hero...you know, some tragic figure like Camus' "L'Etranger" or some abject Steppenwolf-type figure. It doesn't work...certainly not from an NT Christological perspective, but neither does it work from a literary perspective. Funny, how Christ just won't fit into our cultural and political paradigms...

Anonymous said...

The Samaritan, not Christ, is the hero of the Parable of the Good Samaritan. (Note the title given to the parable.)

The parable (etymology: from Latin parabola "comparison," from Greek parabole "a comparison, parable," , we are challenged to compare) challenges us to compare ourselves to the characters in the parable. Some of us are the priest, some the Levite, some the Samaritan. And those roles can change over time.

The Samaritan is the hero of the parable. The Samaritan was the one who acted - he's an activist - on his proper understanding of "Love your neighbor as yourself."

TJM said...

Kavanaugh, so Mother Theresa is an activist in your jargon or is that term just reserved for favored lefties? Activist is a political term, one Mother Theresa would eschew. She would probably be happier if you said she was performing corporal works of mercy. Maybe you should re-connect with your Catholic past and used Catholic terms, rather than political ones, After all, Our Lord said "my kingdom is not of this world!"

Anonymous said...

Bee here:
Anonymous at October 29, 2017 at 5:34 AM (mighty early on a Sunday morning to be perusing the internet and checking the comments on Southern Orders, but anyway...) said,

"The Levite and the priest who passed by the man beaten on the road to Jericho kept quiet and prayed.

The ACTIVIST Samaritan - the one who was hated and feared - was neighbor to the man who was in need."

So crazy. You remind me of a Pharisee. Jesus heals on the Sabbath - gotcha! Jesus doesn't pay the temple tax - gotcha! Jesus says nothing when his disciples pick the grain while walking through a wheat field - gotcha! Jesus disciples eat and drink and don't fast - gotcha!

Anonymous equivalates a private good deed done out of compassion with ACTIVISM. I was under the impression ACTIVISM "consists of efforts to promote, impede, or direct social, political, economic, or environmental reform or stasis with the desire to make improvements in society." (internet definition)

The Good Samaritan did not (I don't think) go to the local authorities and agitate for changes in government or society to prevent robberies on the highway.

If only Anonymous' one problem was imprecision in use of language.

Enjoyment of playing semantical games while confusing the issue is not a sign of a sincere heart.

God bless.
Bee

Rood Screen said...

Nuns are spiritual "brides of Christ". Living this understandably requires an appreciation for the nuptial meaning of the male and female relationship.

rcg said...

Just for jollies I looked up the first use of 'activist' and found it was the year 1915, suspiciously close the same time that the phrase 'useful idiots' was in vogue. I think they are synonyms.

As I age I am finding less use for things of newer vintage, especially words. I would have been crushed had 'activist' dated back to the time Pepys.

Anonymous said...

Saint Teresa of Calcutta was most decidedly an activist.

And the Lord frequently said, "The kingdom of God is in your midst."

TJM said...

Anonymous (Kavanaugh) at 8:12. Have another sherry and go to bed. No one is buying your political bilge

Gene said...

Kavanaugh, I think Bernadette Devlin is more your speed.

Anonymous said...

Activism isn't limited to the political sphere, although activism on behalf of the "widow, the orphan, and the stranger" may well include that.

The Church teaches that we Catholic citizens SHOULD be involved as activists in seeking to build a better society, to support the Common Good.

From the introduction to Archbishop Chaput's book "Render Unto Caesar,"People who take God seriously will not remain silent about their faith. They will often disagree about doctrine or policy, but they won’t be quiet. They can’t be. They’ll act on what they believe, sometimes at the cost of their reputations and careers. Obviously the common good demands a respect for other people with different beliefs and a willingness to compromise whenever possible. But for Catholics, the common good can never mean muting themselves in public debate on foundational issues of human dignity. Christian faith is always personal but never private. This is why any notion of tolerance that tries to reduce faith to private idiosyncrasy, or a set of opinions that we can indulge at home but need to be quiet about in public, will always fail.”

No, Ms. Devlin is not more my speed. Anyone who advocates for justice is my speed, since that is what we Christians are called to do. It can be done by marching in Washington, running for office, questioning representatives at town hall meetings, or caring for the dying on the streets of Calcutta, New York, or Cape Town.

TJM said...

Kavanaugh,

Quit trying to use political terms like "activist!" Archbishop Chaput does not use the term, nor is the term used in Vatican decrees or pronouncements. Ironic, that your Party, the Abortion Party, formerly the Democratic Party, adheres to the old Soviet position that religion may only be practiced within the four walls of the church building but not in the public square.

Anonymous said...

Bee here:

Anonymous @ October 30, 2017 at 12:03 PM said,

"Anyone who advocates for justice is my speed, since that is what we Christians are called to do. It can be done by marching in Washington, running for office, questioning representatives at town hall meetings, or caring for the dying on the streets of Calcutta, New York, or Cape Town."

Or praying in a convent before the Blessed Sacrament.

"Now it came to pass as they went, that he entered into a certain town: and a certain woman named Martha, received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sitting also at the Lord's feet, heard his word. But Martha was busy about much serving. Who stood and said: Lord, hast thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serve? speak to her therefore, that she help me. And the Lord answering, said to her: Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things: BUT ONE THING IS NECESSARY. (my emphasis) Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:8-42

We used to believe this. I guess the good sisters of the 1960's had their doubts of it's effectiveness. Lack of faith?

God bless.
Bee

Anonymous said...

"Activist" has meanings far beyond politics.

Archbishop Chaput's book urges activism.

Gene said...

Kavanaugh continues to insistently misuse terms, though a number of people on here have corrected him repeatedly. Sociopaths continue in the same behavior even if it is not effective.

TJM said...

Kavanaugh, let me know when you find the political term "activist" in Archbishop Chaput's book. Also, you failed to comment about your party's soviet approach to religion. Did I touch a nerve?

TJM said...

Gene, have you noticed that whenever Kavanaugh makes a particularly lame or questionable comment, he uses "Anonymous" as a cover?

Gene said...

TJM, Well, then, he should use Anonymous every time he opens his mouth...

Anonymous said...

You're looking for the term in Chaput's book. I am not.

I don't think I've never commented on your political party comments. Why do you think I would start now? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different resulrs. I

rcg said...

You misspelled 'slurs'.

rcg said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
TJM said...

Kavanaugh, well insanity is being a "catholic" priest and voting for the Abortion Party - hell is paved with religious who break their vows

Anonymous said...

TJM - Diocesan priests are not "religious" - they belong to no religious order - and diocesan priests take no vows.

Time to brush up on your Catholicism 101.

Anonymous said...

TJM, anonymous at 7:59 forgot to add too that most of them aren’t actually Catholic or validly ordained. Catholicism 101!

TJM said...

Kavanaugh at 7:59 is Comedy Gold. I know the difference between regular and secular clergy. He just can't admit he is misleading the Faithful as a Dem operative masquerading as a Catholic priest!

Anonymous said...

"Catholics often face difficult choices about how to vote. This is why it is so important to vote according to a well-formed conscience that perceives the proper relationship among moral goods. A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, such as abortion or racism, if the voter’s intent is to support that position. In such cases a Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in grave evil. At the same time, a voter should not use a candidate’s opposition to an intrinsic evil to justify indifference or inattentiveness to other important moral issues involving human life and dignity."

- Faithful Citizenship, para 34

TJM said...

Kavanaugh, you missed reading the second sentence. I guess you would have voted for Mussolini because he made the trains ran on time, a very important issue to the poor!

Anonymous said...

"A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, such as abortion or racism, if the voter’s intent is to support that position."

See that "if" there, TJM? "If the voter's intent is to support that position."

On-time trains might be a good thing, no?

TJM said...

Kavanaugh, Of course it's their intent, otherwise they would vote for the candidate that doesn't support intrinsic evil. It's like crossing your fingers behind your back while telling a lie.

Anonymous said...

TJM - No, it's not their intent.

The saddest thing in this is that you think you can determine other peoples' motivations. You actually believe that you are the all-knowing, all-seeing ONE who can plumb the depths of hearts and read the thoughts in the recesses of minds.

That's a very, very grand self-image, but it is a bunch of hooey, of course.

That detachment from reality helps explain most, if not all, of your comments here.

TJM said...

Kavanuagh,

Ah, so YOU, the all knowing, know their intent! Objectively, you would have to be a braindead or non-believing Catholic to vote for a candidate who supports intrinsic evil. When was the last time, Nancy Pelosi voted for a pro-life measure (meaning limiting access to abortions)? Never, nada. As matter of fact, she votes consistently for intrinsic evil, so her "catholic" voters are materially cooperating with evil when they continue to return this Messalina to CONgress

Anonymous said...

No, I can't read peoples' minds and neither can you.

The claim that you can explains most, if not all, of your posts.

Reconnect with reality.

TJM said...

Kavanaugh, why don't you reconnect with the Catholic Faith and stop using political terms like activists and stop supporting the Nazi Party given rebirth in in the modern Democratic Party.Adolph LOVED Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Abortionhood

Anonymous said...

Nazis, Democrats, Sanger, Planned Parenthood... I am having difficulty how these aid us in understanding your ability to read minds.

Could you offer some pertinent guidance here?

TJM said...

Kavanaugh, if your parents are still alive go home and tell your Mom and Dad that you vote for a party that advocates killing babies in the womb by the millions, selling their body parts, and supports gay marriage. Have you no decency?

Anonymous said...

"If your parents are still alive..."

WELL, I would think that a person who can read minds would be able to figure this out.

You're as able to read minds as Miss Cleo was able to tell the future. Of course, she didn't foresee the authorities coming to arrest her, did she?

TJM said...

Kavanaugh, still on the defense. Why not admit your shame of supporting intrinsic evils via your voting for the Abortion Party, formerly the Democratic Party.

Anonymous said...

TJM - Still waiting for your explanation of you mind-reading ability.

But, we're beginning to notice that, when questioned/challenged directly, you immediately turn the discussion to some tangential topic...

Sanger, anyone?