English cardinal calls for legislation tackling 'extremism'
- Feb 24, 2021
Brazilian Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, the Vatican’s point man on consecrated life, has criticized what he said is a state of “dominance” that men often hold over women in the Catholic Church, and stressed the need for a deeper renewal of religious life across the board.
One nun has praised Archbishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, president of the French Bishops’ Conference (CEF), for saying women religious should have the right to vote during synods of bishops.
As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, women religious throughout the world have been at the front lines both in terms of prevention and awareness, and caring for the poor, sick and elderly.
Several nuns serving women and girls in conflict areas have said that in their view, while seeking greater recognition and leadership in the Catholic Church is important, women’s empowerment is more than simply trying to move up, but is about encouragement at the local level.
One difficulty in getting those of us in the media to focus on subjects such as ecology, poverty and extractive industries in the Amazon is that it’s hard to know what the Catholic Church can really do about them.
A new letter from the global umbrella group of women religious has said the children of nuns must receive care, and acknowledged that in some cases, consecrated women will give their children up for adoption and return to their order.