Breaking the habit

The Economist
December 20, 2014

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2014/12/catholic-church-and-american-women

WOMEN entering religious life in the Catholic church take, among other vows, the vow of obedience. This vow demands deference to both God and church doctrine; in other words, to the men who set and uphold Catholic teaching. But the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), an organisation representing 80% of American nuns, hasn’t always been so keen on meek deference. Members in the past have publicly dissented with the Vatican on issues including gay rights, abortion and the ordination of women. More recently, the group has been criticised for concentrating too much on social justice, rather than championing the church’s teachings on abortion and sexuality.

In 2008, under Pope Benedict XVI, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith initiated an investigation of American nuns, citing concerns about “a certain feminist spirit.” As Reverend Paul Sullins at the Catholic University of America explained, these women “have suggested that the church’s teachings are wrong or dated or need to be changed, and it wants to enter into some sort of conversation… It’s a huge arrogance.” The investigation continued under Pope Francis and concluded recently, with a report from the Vatican just in time for Christmas.

Though many sisters resented the investigation when it began six years ago, it seems to have ended on a positive note. The report expresses gratitude for the contributions of American nuns, and otherwise falls short of making concrete suggestions or changes. It even cites Pope Francis’s call to create “still broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the church.” 

The change from Benedict’s castigating tone to Francis’s supportive one seems wise: the Catholic church isn’t in a position to further alienate women religious, whose numbers have been dwindling for years. According to Pew Research, the number of American nuns has dropped 72% since 1965—from 180,000 to 50,000. By contrast, the number of American priests has fallen only 35% over the same period. The number of nuns is also declining much faster in America than elsewhere in the world: in 1970, American nuns represented 16% of the world’s religious sisters; today, they’re only 7%.

This drop makes sense, given the increased opportunities for American women outside the church and the sexism within it. In 1965, most Catholic girls faced a choice between being a mother and being a nun. Now that women have more options, fewer are inclined to take that vow of obedience. It is likely that the growth of women’s roles in Protestant churches has also played a role. Women who are called to religious life are understandably more drawn to institutions that afford them equal treatment and allow them to take on leadership roles.

In light of the waning appeal of the Catholic church to women religious, is Pope Francis’s vague talk about broader opportunities enough? The pope has struck a welcome change of tone, to be sure, but anyone looking for new policies has been disappointed. When it comes to the priesthood, Francis firmly upholds church doctrine: “On the ordination of women, the church has spoken and said no… That door is closed.” Last year, he also explained, “I am wary of a solution that can be reduced to a kind of female machismo because a woman has a different make-up than a man.” These declarations seem to preclude women from spiritual leadership.

Pope Francis has been widely praised for his progressive social views, but when it comes to the role of women, he remains ambiguous. His decision not to criticise the work of American nuns is a step in the right direction. But words alone won’t be enough to drawn women—religious and lay—back to the church.