Commentary: A tale of two nun organizations

I haven't been watching the Vatican visitation of women religions in the United States very closely.

I do, however, have a fixation on numbers and statistics, so this email forwarded to me caught my eye this morning.

You see, in the mainstream media, it is often claimed that the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) represents 95% of women religious  in the United States. 

This is disconcerting, because the LCWR doesn't exactly always agree with Rome.

This email from a sister at the other organization which represents women religious in the U.S. (The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious - CMSWR), paints a slightly different picture:

The LCWR represents approximately 80% of women religious in the USA. CMSWR represents 20% (about 10,000 women religious). We represent 80% of new vocations; LCWR 20% of new vocations.

I don't trade stocks on the market, but even I know a smart buy when I see one. Talk about expanding market share.

Alert: How you can help Dominican Nuns overflowing with vocations!

I've been corresponding over the past couple of days with a Dominican Sister of the Mary, Mother of the Eucharist community in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

I have had the privilege of knowing several sisters in this thriving young order during my time in Michigan, and since then as well. I will never forget the sight of their young professed sisters walking along the sidewalks of Ann Arbor in their white habits, often with a backpack full of school books for whatever class they were attending.

Now for the wake-up line: this religious community has grown by 2500% in the last 13 years.

You read that right. This explosion in vocations is unparalleled in my experience, and now I would be thrilled to see the AmP community support the necessary costs of providing for the needs of this flourishing order.

I'm going to rewrite in my own words her description of some of the upcoming events and opportunities for support she has brought to my attention:

"The 4th Annual “A Pledge of Future Glory Gala Dinner and Golf Tournament” will be held in Vienna, VA, on October 5th. These events provide assistance to help fund the growth of our community. We have grown from four Sisters in 1997 to ninety-nine as of 2 weeks ago, when our 17 newest Sisters entered (as recently covered in an article on CNA - which includes a YouTube video as well).

As you can imagine, there are significant costs associated with such growth – the main 2 costs being the building of our Motherhouse, and the education and formation of our young Sisters.

The name of our golf events comes from the title of our ongoing “A Pledge of Future Glory” mission advancement campaign, with an overall goal of raising $25 million for the burgeoning needs of our community (and the name of the campaign comes from St. Thomas Aquinas’ prayer “O Sacrum Convivium” – we are Dominicans, after all!).

Our website has a registration page for the event and also has a link to a PDF brochure. We also have online donation capabilities, for those who might not be able to attend the event, but who would like to help the cause! Every gift helps us!"

If you want to support a culture of young, orthodox vocations to women religious communities in the United States, you simply couldn't support a better group of sisters than these Dominicans.

Especially as the Vatican attempts to reform the older female religious communities in the United States through an extensive (and often resisted) visitation, now is the perfect time to support the joyfully-faithful sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, to help them remain and become an even brighter shining example of a life lived totally for Christ and his Church.

Picture: Post-Christian Sisters

From the Catholic World Report facebook page (which you should join!):

Ann Carey argues that many of the problems with women religious in the US today - which have necessitated the apostolic visitation announced by the Vatican earlier this year - can be directly traced to the pervasive influence of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.

I got distracted at first from reading the article by the accompanying photo:

Yikes.

U.S. Women Religious to receive Apostolic Visitation

Recently, the Vatican concluded a comprehensive examination of the seminaries and houses of formation for Priests and male religious. Now it has been announced that a similar procedure will take place for religious sisters in the United States. The Associated Press:

The Vatican has begun a first-ever comprehensive study of women's religious orders in the United States, four decades into a steep decline in the number of Roman Catholic sisters and nuns in the country.

The study, ordered by a Vatican congregation in December and announced Friday in Washington, will examine "the quality of the life" of 59,000 members in more than 400 Catholic women's religious institutes, said Sister Eva-Maria Ackerman, a spokeswoman for the study, which is called an apostolic visitation.

For those interested, Cardinal Franc Rode, who will oversee the Vatican-side of things, has a lengthy text on the topic. There is also an official website for the program.

How the process will work:

First, Mother Clare will solicit voluntary input from the superiors general through inviting them to make personal contacts with her in Rome or in the United States. During the second stage, the major superiors in the United States will be asked for information such as statistics, activities and community practices. Selected on-site visits will be made during the third stage. During this time, the sisters will have an opportunity to share with the visitation teams their joys and hopes, challenges and concerns about their lives as women religious in the Church today. The final stage will be the compilation and delivery of a comprehensive and confidential review by Mother Clare to Cardinal Rodé. (PDF file)

My initial reactions:

• Check-ups are always a good thing. Broadly speaking, however, female religious orders have not exhibited the same set of problems as many seminaries and houses of formation for male religious did (particularly in recent decades). Nevertheless, accountability to the Vatican and attentiveness to the needs of and concerns about female religious should yield good fruit.
• The initiative appears well-run at the outset. The website, transparency of the process, etc., are welcome changes of pace from the (sadly) more typical situations of bureaucracy and inneficiency that plague these sort of huge undertakings.

But that's just me. I'd especially be interested to hear what people closer to the process are thinking, especially religious sisters, although obviously many cloistered orders and sisters in their postulancy stage don't always have access to the internet (or time to fritter away on humble blogs like my own). Still, it's worth a shot.

15 sedevacantist nuns rejoin the Catholic Church

Tales of hope ought to be widely told:

Last July, 15 nuns from a schismatic convent in Washington state rejoined the Catholic Church. They left the motherhouse of the Religious Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (CMRI), located on the outskirts of Spokane, to form a new congregation: the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church. They formally renounced their state of schism, made a profession of the Catholic faith, became a private association of the faithful under the care of Spokane Bishop William Skylstad, and recognized the legitimacy of the popes from Paul VI through Benedict XVI.

Their former order, which still has approximately 35 sisters, holds to the sedevacantist position that popes elected since John XXIII are invalid and that Vatican II was a heretical council.

Welcome home.

Rumor: FPOs asked to leave Mt. St. Mary's Seminary?

This is on deep background, but I bring it to press to see if anyone can fill in the details.

Found in Cardinal Sean O'Malley's blog comment thread, from "Kathleen Boyle Palkovic":

Dear Cardinal,

I have been a TFPO since Sept. 2007. I started as a cordbearer and now have moved up. My first experience with the FPO’s was a vocation talk from Fr. John Sweeney from Emmitsburg, Md. His talk to my students was so moving that we continually invited him back for more. He made our Catholic faith more understandable, made us realize how important it is, and challenged all of us to be bold in our faith.

I have just completed my first retreat with the FPO's. It was life changing. I have become a better person (my husband’s remark). I have been more loving, forgiving, seeking to help others, more peaceful, and more involved in learning about my Catholic faith.

I was looking forward to another educational and faith filled year with the FPO's. So naturally, I was surprised and somewhat devastated at the “recall” of all the FPO”s back to Boston.

I’m sure there were many good reasons that I will never know and I’m sure the decision was prayfully arrived at, but they were loved by so many. I loved their courage to speak the truth, live a life of penance, be an example of a true Catholic.

FPO's refer to the Franciscans of the Primitive Observance. More information about them here in the comment thread over at The Road to Reform. The student newspaper of Mount St. Mary's University talks about them here back in 2003. Roman Catholic Vocations has several posts about them, which you can read here.

So, anyone know what's going on?

Claim: Fr. Frank Pavone's religious order disbanded

Diogenes sets up the pieces:

Don't look now, but the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life, the religious order founded in 2005 by Father Frank Pavone, has quietly been disbanded. The Missionaries continue to exist as a lay association, but the lay members may be confused, since they originally signed up as lay affiliates of an order that no longer exists.

The disappearance of the religious order reflects a decision by the Amarillo (Texas) diocese, ratified by the Vatican. In the long run, the move may presage further troubles for Priests for Life, Father Pavone's more successful venture. The Missionaries were only a small part of the overall operation of Priests for Life. In fact, Church leaders had grown increasingly concerned that the religious order could be inappropriately controlled by a secular corporation-- and a corporation with a strong political bent, at that. But there's more to the story. Church officials in Amarillo and in Rome were reportedly concerned about possible confusion in fundraising between the religious order and the secular corporation. Beyond that there were-- and still are-- concerns about the successful fundraising by Priests for Life, a group that has been raising tidy sums with minimal ecclesiastical control.

Diogneses goes on to claim that the reason for the disbanding was "conflict with diocesan officials."

Can anyone illuminate this situation with personal experience?

Ph/t: Willam Newton.

Interview: 3 Priorities for Promoting Vocations (especially among young women)

This is the sort of person one should listen to on this topic, a member of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (commonly known simply as the "Nashville Dominicans"), which are the powerhouse vocations community for religious sisters in the United States:

There are three high priorities in fostering vocations to the religious and priestly life, said a Dominican sister with 15 years of experience in vocational work.

Sister Catherine Marie Hopkins is now the executive director of the Dominican Campus in Nashville where the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia own and operate Overbrook School, St. Cecilia Academy and Aquinas College.

Recently named a member of the U.S. bishops' national advisory council, Sister Hopkins suggests the three highest priorities in fostering vocations: education, sacramental devotion and youth ministry that exposes young people to both prayer and evangelization.

Her personal vocation story, briefly:

Q: You worked for 15 years as vocation director for your order. What was the key to finding your own vocation? Did your own experience help you to aid other women in discerning theirs?

Sister Hopkins: The key to finding my own vocation was the realization that God had the plan and I just needed to discover exactly what that plan was. It began with inner turmoil at the thought that God could ask such a thing of me, but I very quickly found out that if he were calling, everything that I needed in order to respond would be provided by him as well.

That brought me tremendous freedom and my turmoil was replaced by a very strong attraction. [Read on.]

Also do checkout their daughter community, the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

I had the privledge of studying with some of these young women. I also came across them many times on the campuses of other, secular institutions. They are such a public, living witness in their full Dominican habits, rosaries, smiles and backpacks full of books!

Vatican issues document on obedience in religious life

Welcome:

The Vatican has issued a new document underlining the importance of obedience in religious life.

Entitled "The Service of Authority and Obedience," the 50-page document from the Congregation for Religious takes the form of an Instruction. It was presented to the superiors of male and female religious orders on May 28 at an assembly held in the Salesianum in Rome.

.... The document from the Congregation for Religious explicitly takes up the question of "difficult obedience," which arises when the individual religious finds the superior's directions "particularly hard to carry out." It also considers situations in which the superior's orders might cause conflicts in the individual's conscience.

Obedience can "give rise to difficult moments," the Vatican document acknowledges. Nevertheless the Instruction observes that religious should reflect on the fundamental role of obedience as a path to understanding God's will. The exercise of religious authority can also be difficult for the superior, the document notes. Everyone in religious life is called to embrace obedience "not just as a passive and irresponsible execution of orders, but as a conscious shouldering of commitments." (CWNews)

CNA has coverage here: "The Instruction seeks to recall, above all, that obedience in religious life can give rise to difficult moments, to situations of suffering in which it is necessary to refer back to the Obedient One par excellence, Christ."

Now there's an example for all of us.

Breaking: John Michael Talbot’s Hermitage Burns To The Ground

Horrible:

A major fire is testing the faith of a Catholic monastery near Eureka Springs. Flames destroyed the chapel and dining hall of Little Portion Hermitage just after midnight Tuesday.

Firefighters from four departments were able to keep the intense fire from spreading to the living quarters of its members. They lost their archives, library, and storeroom. Little Portion's founder is recording artist John Michael Talbot, who says some at the monastery suffered from minor smoke inhalation.

If you'd like to make a donation for recovery and rebuilding, you can do so at Little Portion’s Web site.

More:

• Music News: Fire destroys Little Portion Hermitage (GrapeVine)
• Breaking News: John Michael Talbot’s Hermitage Burns (Catholic Online)

Ph/t: AmP reader Joan.

Noted: New Legionary of Christ Director Meets With Pope

Their meeting took place on the 15th of this month, but I didn't notice it until now:

In a private audience with Benedict XVI, the general director of the Legionaries of Christ renewed the congregation's loyalty to the Pope at the start of a new stage in its history, following the Jan. 30 death of the founder.

The Pope received in audience Legionary of Christ Father Álvaro Corcuera on Saturday.

According to the congregation, in the meeting the general director wanted to assure the Holy Father of the group's "unconditional loyalty to the Pope" in what he called a "new stage in their history."

Father Marcial Maciel, the founder of the congregation and the apostolic movement Regnum Christi, which is associated with the Legion of Christ, died Jan. 30 at age 87.

According to the Regnum Christi Web page, "The Holy Father, with fatherly kindness, assured Father Corcuera that he continues closely accompanying the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi with his prayers. He then granted all of its members his apostolic blessing, especially the thousands of young people and families who will participate in evangelization missions across the world during Holy Week." (Zenit)

"Unconditional loyalty." A "new stage" in the LoC history. Good signs. Why we need good signs.

The picture above is from their previous meeting in June 2006. More about it, in Fr. Corcuera's own words, on the Regnum Christi website. The RC report on this 2008 meeting is here. Happy Pope photo alert:

Rosalind Moss starting new community by permission of Abp. Burke

Exciting news:

Rosalind Moss, an author who is an Eternal Word Television Network TV host and one of the network's radio hosts, announced Feb. 13 that she is starting a new community of sisters in the Archdiocese of St. Louis with the permission of Archbishop Raymond L. Burke.

The new group will be called the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel's Hope, she told an audience of more than 200 at the Catholic Breakfast Club of Sacramento.
... She is working now on designing a floor-length habit, along with a basket to hold religious articles which sisters will distribute both in the poorest areas of the city and the richest.

"The purpose of this religious community is to flood the world with holy habits as signs to God," said Moss, who is also a staff apologist with Catholic Answers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the Catholic faith through all forms of media.

..."I'll come back to Sacramento one day in a habit," said Moss. "Hold nothing back from God."

I got to know Moss briefly when I was living in Southern California. Expect great things!

Typically biased reporting on religious life demographics issued by the BBC

The BBC hasn't learned any new tricks:

Newly published statistics showed that the number of men and women belonging to religious orders fell by 10% to just under a million between 2005 and 2006.

During the pontificate of the late Pope John Paul II, the number of Catholic nuns worldwide declined by a quarter.

Is it me, or is the second paragraph somehow trying to claim a causal connection between the decline in religious life and John Paul II's conservative reign? If anything, he probably prevented those numbers from falling lower. What we are seeing now and what obtained during his pontificate is the long-term fallout of the 60's and 70's.

The figures were published next to a report of Pope Benedict XVI's meeting with nuns, monks and priests from many countries gathered in St Peter's Basilica in Rome last weekend.

The BBC's David Willey in the Italian capital says the accelerating downward trend must have caused concern to the Pope.

I'm sure this news was no surprise to the pope. I'm sure the reporter knew that such statistics have been around for a good while now, but hey, it must have been a slow news day, right? Of course this is cause for concern, but where is mention of the other significant causes of hope? Oh right, it's not that slow of a news day.

And, just in case we forgot the BBC's pet theory that "JP2 = no nuns", the article ends:

The number of Catholic nuns worldwide declined by about a quarter during the reign of Pope John Paul, and this further drop shows that new recruits are failing to replace those nuns who die, or decide to abandon their vows, he adds.

Got it.

update: well, riddle me this:

Vatican corrects figures showing steep drop in religious orders

Between 2005 and 2006, L'Osservatore Romano reported, the number of male and female religious in the world dropped by nearly 95,000. The entire religious population now stands at just over 945,000.

However, on the day after those figures were published in the Vatican newspaper, the Vatican press office corrected the record. Father Ciro Benedettini, the deputy director of the press office, said that the accurate figures showed a decline of just 7,230 over that one-year period.

Thus although the world's religious population did decrease between 2005 and 2006, the decline was less than 1% of the total-- rather than nearly 10%. - CWN

Commenters below take note - less than 1%, not 10%. Who ran the first set of numbers, I wonder?

Correction: LC founder Maciel died in Houston, TX

In my original post for this story, I cited anonymous claims that Legionaries of Christ founder Marcial Maciel died in Naples, Florida. Such is not the case, as the AP reports:

The founder of 1 of the fastest-growing Catholic religious orders, who was disciplined because of sex abuse allegations, has died in Houston.

Mexican priest Marcial Maciel ... died yesterday [Jan. 30] of natural causes.

He was 87.

Details come from his order, the conservative Legionaries of Christ.

Officials say Maciel died where he lived in a group home with other Legionaries priests.

Apologies for the earlier mis-identification. That post will also now be revised.

Legionaries of Christ founder Marcial Maciel dies

update 1, feb 1: Amy notes:

I’m struck by the fact that at least up to this point, there is no telegram made public from the Holy Father sending condolences to the group for the death of their founder, an act that is otherwise standard practice.

Agreed. Remember that I said originally in this post that one should watch to see the Vatican reaction to his death. In this case, I would claim that even a lack of activity can be taken to mean something. The official LC response, similarly, is significantly terse (and it looks like I got my translation of their announcement accurate).

update 2, feb 1: The Associated Press has reported that Maciel died in Houston, Texas.

original post: ABC News gets right to the point:

A well-connected Vatican insider who was accused of molesting young priests in training has died. Father Marcial Maciel never faced a trial nor was he punished by the Vatican despite the fact the church had asked him to stop all public ministry appearances.

The Vatican City AP wire is a bit more accurate:

The Rev. Marcial Maciel, a Mexican priest who founded the Legionaries of Christ religious order and was disciplined by Pope Benedict XVI after sex abuse allegations, has died in the United States, his order said Thursday. He was 87.

Maciel died Wednesday of natural causes, the conservative religious order said on its Web site. It did not say exactly where he died.

{update 2, feb 1: The Associated Press has reported that Maciel died in Houston, Texas.}

The Legionaries website announces (In Italian) essentially that their "beloved Founder and Father, MARCIAL MACIEL DEGOLLADO, has passed to his celestial native home, on the 30th of January, etc..."

(Again, my rough translation:) "By the wish of Fr. Maciel, the funeral will take place in an atmosphere of prayer and celebrated in a simple and private manner."

CNA specifies that the funeral will occur in his hometown of Mexico, date unpublished.

Associated Press: "Religious Order Leader Maciel Dies"
Reuters: "Mexican Catholic leader accused of sex abuse dies"

God rest his soul.

Watch for: 1) Vatican reaction at the news of his death. 2) Official Legionaries of Christ reaction.

Related posts:

• File photo of Maciel with John Paul II
• May 22: "ZENIT's objectivity about the Maciel decision doubteful?"
• May 20: "Fr. Maciel removed from ministry: Day Two"
• May 19: "Fr. Maciel removed from ministry: reactions & commentary"
• May 18: "Pope Benedict approves restrictions on Fr. Maciel, Legionaries of Christ founder"

"This is a very good custom" Pope says of Jesuit vow renewal

Zenit:

During the audience Father Nicolás handed an envelope to the Holy Father in which he renewed in writing his obedience to the Pope, fulfilling a Jesuit tradition for newly elected superiors-general of the Society.

In addition to this tradition for those leading the order, obedience to the Pope in missionary matters is the fourth vow that all Jesuits make alongside the traditional three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

"The Pope opened the envelope right away and read the vows," reported the Jesuits. Then he said, "This is a very good custom."

Hint, hint.

Dominican Leaders rebuke problematic proposal of Dutch Dominicans

Dominicans in The Netherlands (which today made AmP news for having one its chapels converted into a "modern and stylish apartment") today received a firm rebuke from their leaders in Rome:

World leaders of the Dominican order have issued a correction to three Dutch Dominican theologians who issued a popular pamphlet arguing that parish communities could celebrate the Eucharist without a priest, the French newspaper La Croix reporters.

The Dominican officials criticize the Dutch theologians for promoting views that contradict fundamental Church doctrines, according to La Croix. But the report issued from Rome stops short of disciplinary action against the theologians involved in the Dutch pamphlet.

... The report from Rome, dated January 23, does not call for disciplinary action against the Dominicans responsible for the pamphlet. But it directs the Dutch Dominicans to publicize the response in all the parishes where the original pamphlet was circulated last year-- as many as 1,500 parishes.

Personally, I wish these sort of disputes were settled the way things were done back at the University of Paris in the 13th century - public debate between chosen masters where they would employ their best arguments.

Or, in place of that, a cage match with hard-bound copies of the Summa.

The final paragraph leaves something to be desired, however:

The author of the Roman response, the French Dominican Hervé Legrand, does express some sympathy for the Dutch Dominican theologians on one issue: the question of priestly celibacy. On that issue "there must be a debate," the document says, noting that "the current situation for priests is not the only one possible."

Actually, the current situation for priests *is* the only one possible in the Roman rite.

But at least this is some progress.

Now to address the far more serious causes of the vocations crisis in Europe....

To provide an informative counter-point on this issue and related ones, see In the Light of the Law today:

In the course of answering some questions about "presiders" at liturgies, Fr. Edward McNamara, LC, made an interesting, but I think controvertible, statement: "Only an ordained minister can, strictly speaking, preside at any liturgical act." That sounds inconsistent with the language used in several authoritative sources.

...

Obviously [well, not to some Dominicans in The Netherlands. - AmP], certain liturgies can only be presided over by the ordained [i.e., Mass! - AmP]. Even in those liturgies that can be led by laity, however, ordained presiders, being more closely configured to Christ the High Priest, bring to their role a greater disposition for liturgical ministry, they offer a more perfect sign of our communion with one another under a hierarchic governance, and they are usually permitted a greater degree of solemnity in the celebration of the liturgy than are lay celebrants.

[Read the rest.]

Hint: The Book of Blessings!

Complete Coverage: Jesuits elect new superior Adolfo Nicolás, 71

From the website for Jesuits in the United States:

"After four days of prayer and personal conversation known as murmurationes, the 217 Jesuit electors gathered in Rome from around the world have chosen Adolfo Nicolás, SJ as the 30th Superior General of the Society of Jesus.

He was the President of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania and the former Provincial of Japan.

He is now Father General to nearly 20,000 Jesuits worldwide, including 2,900 in the United States, and the 29th successor to St. Ignatius Loyola who founded the Jesuits in 1540."

Catholic News Service reports:

Spanish-born Father Adolfo Nicolas, moderator of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania, was elected superior general of the Society of Jesus Jan. 19.

The 217 voting delegates to the Jesuit General Congregation elected Father Nicolas, 71, on their second ballot. He succeeds Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, 79, who had asked to resign because of his age.

Pope Benedict XVI was informed of the election of Father Nicolas before the Jesuits announced it publicly.

...

Father Nicolas was ordained to the priesthood in Tokyo and is the former Jesuit provincial of Japan. He also had served as director of the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila.

Interviewed in December about his hopes for the work of the General Congregation, Father Nicolas said, "I have a feeling, still imprecise and difficult to define, that there is something important in our religious life that needs attention and is not getting it.

"We have certainly been diligent in addressing our problems whenever we have seen them," he said, noting the focus of past General Congregations, "but the uneasiness in the society and in the church has not disappeared."

In the interview, with the Province Express, the newsletter of the Australian Jesuits, he said, "The question for us is: Is it enough that we are happy with our life and are improving our service and ministry? Isn't there also an important factor in the perception of people ('vox populi') that should drive us to some deeper reflection on religious life today?

..."How come we elicit so much admiration and so little following?" he asked.

He concluded by telling the newsletter that he hoped the General Congregation would begin "a process of dynamic and open reflection on our religious life that might begin a process of re-creation of the society for our times, not only in the quality of our services, but also and mostly in the quality of our personal and community witness to the church and the world."

Mark Brumley finds an additional interview with Fr. Nicolas from earlier last year.

A brief biography of Fr. Nicolas from CNS:

Born April 29, 1936, in Palencia, Spain, Father Nicolas entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1953. After earning a degree in philosophy in Spain, he was sent to Japan to study theology. He was ordained a priest in Tokyo in 1967.

After earning a master's degree in theology from the Jesuit-run Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, he returned to Japan and taught systematic theology at Sophia University in Tokyo.

In 1978-84 he was director of the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila. In 1991-1993 he was rector of the program for Jesuit scholastics in Japan, and in 1993 he was appointed provincial for Japan.

Before being named moderator of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania in 2004, he spent three years working in a poor immigrant parish in Tokyo, living with and ministering to Filipino and other Asian immigrants.

Father Nicolas speaks Spanish, Japanese, English, French and Italian

Rocco Palmo files his report on the election here and notes:

Unlike the vast majority of those tipped for the post, the new Father-General comes short on Roman experience -- a former provincial of Japan, the theologian spent three years of study at the Gregorian University before a three decade run as a professor at Tokyo's Sofia University. He turns 72 in late April.

John Allen's coverage. Some excerpts that give insight into what Fr. Nicolas is reputed to represent:

... Though Nicolás, 71, was not among the most commonly mentioned candidates in the run-up to today’s vote, Jesuit sources said he represents a fairly bold choice – something of a blend between the mild personal manner and diplomatic skill of Kolvenbach, and the prophetic emphasis on justice, peace, and church reform associated with former General Fr. Pedro Arrupe.

... A former director of the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila and head of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania, Nicolás is said to be particularly close to the church in Japan. In broad strokes, Jesuit observers say he represents the theological outlook associated with the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, with emphasis on inter-religious dialogue, advocacy for justice and peace, and “inculturation” of church teachings and practices.

...Nicolás himself knows the alarms such views can sometimes set off in Rome. A Jesuit source in Rome said that several years ago, Nicolás was under consideration as Rector of the Gregorian University, but the Vatican expressed doubts about the appointment on the basis of concerns about the role he played as a theological advisor to the Japanese bishops during the 1998 Synod for Asia. During that session, prelates from across Asia, including a particularly strong push from Japan, argued for greater collegiality, or decentralization, in church authority.

These paragraphs are somewhat disheartening when you compare them with what has been said recently by Pope Benedict, Cardinal Franc Rode, and other noted observers.

Brief coverage in the Associated Press published here.

John Allen informs us that Fr. Nicolas will "lead the Jesuits in a Thanksgiving Mass tomorrow, followed by a reception at the Gregorian University. On Monday morning, he will take over leadership of the General Congregation as it begins charting a future course for the Jesuit order."

Guide them, O Holy Spirit.

More on the "Black Conclave"

Rocco comments on two possible "Superior General-abili" (and what's the "bili", you ask?):

It'll be another ten days or so before one of the 226 delegates emerges as the 29th successor of Ignatius Loyola and new "Black Pope," but after the outgoing Father-General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach relinquished the chair, the representatives of the church's largest religious community placed two potential candidates at the center of the spotlight. The Puerto Rican Orlando Torres -- a Kolvenbach favorite currently running the Society's formation desk -- was elected to preside over the assembly until the election, with Basque Fr Ignacio Echarte, head of the Jesuit houses in Rome, chosen as his deputy. [More.]

Related: "Jesuits meet this week to choose new leader ... and get a tongue-lashing (Jan 7)"

Jesuits meet this week to choose new leader ... and get a tongue-lashing

Today the Jesuit order's General Congregation began meeting in Rome to, among other things, choose a new lifetime successor to Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, who has led the order since 1983.

CNS News Hub has a helpful break-down of Jesuit statistics here. There are currently almost 20,000 Jesuits around the world. 225 of them are participating in this so-called "black conclave" to elect a new superior general. CNS News Hub also points us to some related Jesuit blogs, podcasts, etc.

Kolvenbach has told L'Osservatore Romano something that isn't really suprising: namely, that the Jesuit order's choice of a new successor will reveal much about where the order is heading (or wants to head).

Most notable so far in the proceedings is the admonition given by Cardinal Rode to the opening assembly of the Jesuit conclave, the full text of his address is available here.

LifeSiteNews finds a very strong rebuke in the Cardinal's message:

The top Vatican official who deals with religious orders, Cardinal Franc Rode, addressed the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) today. Cardinal Rode who was installed by Pope Benedict XVI as Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life spoke repeatedly about his "sorrow and anxiety" at the state of the Jesuit order in terms of infidelity to the teachings of the Church.

Cardinal Rode recalled the founder of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius and his primary formula for the order: "To serve the Lord and his Spouse the Church under the Roman Pontiff"

"It is with sorrow and anxiety that I see that the sentire cum ecclesia (thinking with the church) of which your founder frequently spoke is diminishing even in some members of religious families," he said.

Zenit takes a more circumspect approach: "Cardinal Rode Exhorts Jesuits to Love Church"

For more information, Rocco has done the legwork and John Allen has piped up as well.

Personally, I haven't heard any rumors about possible front-runners for the position of superior general.

It should come as no surprise, of course, that during the election of a new leader-for-life of the Jesuit order the Cardinal in charge of overseeing religious orders [Rode] should try to remind the Jesuits of their roots.

New report offers confirmation that Pope dissolved secret Legion vows

Rorate Caeli translates an excerpt from an article published yesterday in Mexican newspaper La Jornada:

"The derogation of the secret vows of the Legionaries"

The Pope has derogated the private vows of the Legionaries of Christ, precisely those which were used by the superiors of this religious congregation to protect themselves from possible complaints. The sources of news agencies indicate that these are "parallel measures" to the disciplinary penalty imposed on Marcial Maciel for sexual abuses in 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI had personally asked for the repeal of the private vows professed by the seminarians and priests of the Legionaries of Christ. These were oaths, related to the internal life of the order, which assured its secrecy and impermeability: the first [oath of "charity"] prevented any kind of criticism of superiors and their decisions by members, while the second [oath of "humility"] forbade the religious men from aspiring to positions within it.

{Read the entire report (in Spanish).}

I covered this story last month: Did the Pope dissolve two private vows in the Legionaries of Christ?

Ph/t: Amy.

Video: 1964 Dominican Vocations Film

What better way to start your day?

Some of these clips were filmed at the Dominican House of Studies, where I attend classes and work now:



Excerpts from "And the world looks at us", a 1964 Dominican Province of Saint Joseph vocation film written by Fr. Dominic Rover, O.P., and narrated by Dana Elcar. The original film was 28 min in length. The scenes included here were filmed at St. Stephen Priory in Dover, MA, the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C., and St. Dominic Church, Washington, D.C. From the archives of the Dominican Theological Library at the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C. - DHS Priory YouTube Channel

Of course, this isn't just history.

Did the Pope dissolve two private vows in the Legionaries of Christ?

Many are claiming he did. If he did, he did it quietly. I think that's significant.

Bill Cork says (back on October 23rd):

Reportedly, the Vatican has directed the [Legionaries] to get rid of a couple of secrets – its private vows:

1. Never to desire, seek or scheme to obtain responsibilities or positions in the congregation for himself or others …

2. Never to criticize externally the acts of government or the person of any director or superior of the congregation by word, in writing or any other way. And if he knows for certain that a religious has broken this commitment, to inform the latter’s immediate superior.

Bill cites three sources [Life-After-RC, National Catholic Reporter & Washington Post] for the text of the private vows and the claim that the Vatican has done away with them.

The first source cites "rumors that the Vatican has recently released all members of the Movement from [the] constraints [of the Fourth Vow]." The Washington Post article (which I think I've previously covered but cannot find archived at present), provides the context for the most recent headlines: the Legion is suing a former priest of theirs, John Paul Lennon, who is the president of the ReGAIN network, a watchdog organization "made up primarily of former Legionaries and family of current members. The group is trying to reveal what it considers to be a draconian and deeply secretive faith structure" {source.}

The National Catholic Reporter article (which is available on the ReGAIN website, though I highly doubt they would try to fabricate such a source), provides this report:

"... [T]he head of the order has apparently visited Legion provinces around the world and has instructed priests that two “secret vows” that have been a staple of Legion formation, vows that appear to protect leaders in the order from any criticism, are no longer to be used."

I think we can surmise from the preceding that Pope Benedict, in all likelihood, has abolished these two private vows, but has chosen to do so quietly. This decision of his was not directly-caused by the alleged-abuses by Legionaries of Christ founder Maciel (and his subsequent removal from ministry, blogged about here), but could be seen as a response to the LoC's subsequent attempts to underplay the unstated rebuke.

Update: From the comments thread by Glenn J Favreau:

Translated from http://www.milenio.com/index.php...7/11/19/150204/

Benedict XVI Cancels Two Private Vows of the Legionaries of Christ

Vatican City - Vatican sources said today that Pope Benedict XVI personally requested the abolition of two special private vows professed by seminarians and priests of the Mexican religious congregation, the Legionaries of Christ.

They deal with promises related to internal aspects of the order. The first prevents any criticism by members of their superiors or of their decisions; the second prohibits religious from seeking positions within the congregation itself.

Vatican sources have told Notimex that the measure was taken by the Congregation for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life following disciplinary actions in 2006 against Legionary founder, Marcial Maciel Degollado.

In May of that year the Apostolic See announced that the Mexican priest was being obliged to follow a "reserved life of prayer and penitence." This followed an investigation by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith "for crimes falling within the exclusive jurisdiction of this office."

Sources stated that the abolition of the private vows is a "measure parallel" to that of Maciel's sanction and that it was personally ordered by Benedict XVI and given to the current director of the Legionaries of Christ, Alvaro Corcuera.

These vows, which are included in the text of the congregation' s constitutions, specifically state that one is "never to desire, seek or scheme to acquire responsibilities or positions in the congregation for oneself or for others." They also state that no one may ever "criticize the outward actions of governance or the person of any director by written word or by any other means. If it is known for certain that a religious has broken this promise, [one must] inform his immediate superior."

According to a letter written by a former legionary, Emilio Bartolomé, and confirmed as being true by Vatican officials, Corcuera has carried out a series of visits to Legionary houses throughout the world. The purpose of these visits has been to inform superiors of the abolition of the vows and the "relaxation" of certain restrictions placed on seminarians, such as those related to visits with family members.

Previously restricted to a few times a year, visits between seminarians and their families will now be more regular and less restrictive as part of the pope's directives to the order.

The norms related to family visits were approved by the congregation' s Chapter General (or assembly) and cannot be changed by the director general. Only another Chapter General or the pontiff himself can modify them.

Sources conclude that, "since no Chapter General has taken place and the constitutions have not been modified, this confirms that it was a papal decision."

Notimex

My observations:

• This article was alluded to by a confidential source that originally brought the issue to my attention. I believe this is the same one to which he was referring. I believe it is the original one for the story.
• This article significantly substantiates the claims made in my original post regarding the personal vows.
• This article does make a more direct connection between the sanctions imposed on Maciel and Benedict's subsequent relaxation of these private vows. No doubt, I would offer, because these norms could be seen to have exacerbated the problem before and after the event.
• The relaxation of family visitation rights for seminarians is a very healthy move, as from hearing some parents talk I knew it has been a significant cause of discord in the past.

I think the article might deserve a post of its own, once I get some time free to address it at more length.