Listen to this, and try not to slap your computer.

Bishop Explains Vatican’s Criticism of U.S. Nuns, on Terry Gross’s “Fresh Air,” on NPR. Guess this particular Christian Quality Control Board needs a run through of the Overboard.

And thanks, DickG., for the link.

A Faithful Budget

I wish Nuns on the Bus would come to Connecticut. If they did, I would go throw flowers.

Take a look at the Faithful Budget, an answer to Rep. Paul Ryan’s faithless one.

I stand with Sis. Simone Campbell (no relation, and that’s my loss) on her interpretation of Catholic social teaching. (You can see her here on “The Colbert Report.”)

Interestingly, go here to read what Al Jazeera has to say about nuns’ political influence in America.

Let’s hand out Dolan Grants to some nuns

Sharon and Susan both sent me this, a recent Bill Keller’s New York Times column that included this gem of an idea for nuns who find themselves unable to stay in a church that condemns them:

There are many nuns who hold fast to the church out of genuine devotion. But there are others who stay out of fear — fear that they will grow old alone, fear of penury and homelessness, fear of losing purpose.

Thankfully, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York has offered us one possible remedy for this problem. As Laurie Goodstein documented in The Times recently, when he was archbishop of Milwaukee Dolan authorized payments of up to $20,000 to predator priests if they agreed to leave the clergy without resisting. He described this as “an act of charity.” Bill Donohue calls it “a severance package.”

I suggest that any long-serving nun who has come to find church teachings incompatible with her conscience should be offered a generous severance. We could call these acts of charity “Dolan Grants.” Surely a church that offers a lifeline to men who brought disgrace on the institution can offer a living stipend to women who brought it honor at great sacrifice.

 

Miriam Therese Winter is on Colin McEnroe’s show today on WNPR

And you really should listen.

M.T.’s going to talk about the Vatican’s crackdown on American nuns. If you haven’t heard of M.T. Winter,  feminist, theologian, and musician at the Hartford Seminary, you really need to give this a listen, while reading this.

Right about now, we’re strapping in…

…into WNPR’s The Colin McEnroe Show, that is, where the topics might be:

• The Vatican and American nuns
• Are we living in a nanny state if the government bans sugary drinks?
• If they’re going to pry my Dr Pepper from my cold, dead fingers, what else are they going to take from me?
• The ethics (or not) of foie gras (which I have never eaten and plan to continue to never eat, forever).

I did not give you much time to prepare, did I? Sorry about that, but — as always: Listen! Call in! Heckle!