Bishops - No; Sisters - Yes.

Some columnists ( E J Dionne, Washington Post; Maureen Dowd, NYT) have made quite a splash this week highlighting a difference in the positions of US women religious and US bishops over passage of the health care bill.

On March 17, Network, a Catholic social justice lobby, founded in 1971 by 47 sisters from different  US congregations, sent a letter to the members of Congress urging them "to cast a life-affirming 'yes' vote for the health care bill."  The letter indicates that the signers joined the Catholic Health Association, which represents 1200 Catholic sponsors, systems, facilities and related organizations, in saying:  the time is now for health reform.  Marlene Weisenbeck, FSPA, LCWR President, is the first signer ahead of 60 other signatures.

The nub of the problem is clear - the bishops said no, the sisters said yes.  As in all things and on any given topic, bishops fall along a spectrum of agreement with their official position and the same is true for sisters.  Everything revolves around the interpretation of the specifics of the bill regarding payment for abortion.  The Catholic Health Association read it one way, the bishops read it another.  The columnists were calling attention to the "liberal" nuns and the "conservative" bishops.  While Network is on the record as being pro-life and opposed to federal funding for abortion, it is the publicly opposing stances in this case that caught media attention.  All of this is exacerbated by the Apostolic Visitation and in the Vatican investigation of LCWR.  The atmosphere is thick with controversy and heightened emotions.  Nevertheless, the sisters and the bishops have a right to express their beliefs and positions on issues that affect the common good.  Actually, it is more than a right, it is a responsibility - one that for many women religious is as integral part of their congregation's mission.

Of historical note:  Clare Dugan, a Sister of St. Joseph of Springfield, was one of the "founding mothers" of Network back in 1971.  Clare's dedication to justice was intense and life-long.