Exploring Lesbianism Among Catholic Nuns

While there are no statistics available on the number of Catholic nuns who identify as lesbians, several books have been written on the topic, including the highly controversial international bestseller Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence, which includes the personal experiences of 50 religious sisters, many of whom eventually left their congregations and the Catholic Church. More recently, Love Tenderly: Sacred Stories of Lesbian and Queer Religious shares the experiences of 23 lesbian and queer religious sisters from different backgrounds, communities, age groups, and ministries. The book highlights the challenges and bumps in the road that these women have faced, as well as their determination to stay in the Church and continue to wrestle with its policies on homosexuality and same-sex relationships.

Lesbian nuns in the media

Lesbian nuns have been a topic of interest in the media for several decades. In the 1980s, the book "Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence" was published, sharing the personal experiences of 50 religious sisters, many of whom were LGBTQ and eventually left their congregations. This book sparked controversy and offended some readers and critics. However, it also received support from both heterosexual and LGBTQ nuns who appreciated the breaking of silence on this topic.

The story of Mother Superior Benedetta Carlini, an Italian Catholic nun accused of heresy and sexual relations with Sister Bartolomea Crivelli in the 17th century, has also attracted media attention. Judith Brown's book "Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy" and the upcoming movie "Blessed Virgin" directed by Paul Verhoeven are based on Carlini's life.

More recently, "Love Tenderly: Sacred Stories of Lesbian and Queer Religious" is an anthology published by the LGBTQ outreach program New Ways Ministry, featuring the stories of 23 lesbian and queer religious sisters. Sister Mary Kay Hunyady, a contributor to the anthology, shared her struggle with the Catholic Church's position on homosexuality.

The media has also covered the stories of individual lesbian nuns, such as Jeanne Cordova, who left the convent to become an activist for the lesbian community, and Monica Hingston, who left the convent after falling in love with another nun. These stories highlight the experiences of LGBTQ individuals within the Catholic Church and their journey towards acceptance and self-acceptance.

Additionally, there have been discussions in the media about reconciling sexuality with the demands of the Catholic Church. Gay priests and nuns have shared their struggles and experiences, with some expressing hope for a more accepting future within the Church.

History of lesbian nuns

While it is unclear how many Catholic nuns are lesbians, lesbian nuns have existed throughout history, with some choosing to speak out about their experiences. In 1985, a book titled 'Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence' was published, which included the personal experiences of 50 religious sisters, many of whom eventually left their congregations and the Catholic Church. The book's editors, Rosemary Curb and Manahan, stated that its purpose was "the breaking of the historic silence about erotic love between women in religious life".

In the 1970s, historian Judith Brown discovered a seventeenth-century ecclesiastical investigation into Mother Superior Benedetta Carlini, an Italian Catholic nun accused of being a heretic and having sexual relations with Sister Bartolomea Crivelli. This inspired Brown to write 'Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy', published in 1986.

In 1970, Jeanne Cordova, a self-described lesbian nun, left the sisterhood of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She went on to become a social worker and activist for social justice, with her story being dramatized in the 2017 movie 'Novitiate'. In the same year, 300 of Cordova's fellow IHM sisters left to form the Immaculate Heart Community, the largest single exodus of Catholic nuns in US history.

In 2021, an anthology titled 'Love Tenderly: Sacred Stories of Lesbian and Queer Religious' was published, featuring the stories of 23 lesbian and queer religious sisters. The book was published by the LGBTQ outreach program New Ways Ministry, with Sister Grace Surdovel compiling the testimonies and sharing her own experience in a chapter called "Authenticity".

The Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality

The Church's teachings emphasise that individuals with same-sex attraction must "be accepted and treated with respect, compassion, and sensitivity", and that all forms of unjust discrimination should be avoided. However, the Church does not recognise or perform sacramental marriages between same-sex couples and actively campaigns against same-sex marriage. It also opposes same-sex civil unions and does not bless them. In 2021, Pope Francis expressed support for civil unions to protect gay couples, but clarified that marriage is a sacrament between a man and a woman.

The Church's position has been a source of conflict and distress for LGBTQ+ Catholics, particularly those in religious life, such as nuns. Several books have been written by and about LGBTQ+ nuns, including "Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence" and "Love Tenderly: Sacred Stories of Lesbian and Queer Religious", which document the experiences and struggles of LGBTQ+ women in Catholic congregations.

While some LGBTQ+ nuns have left their congregations due to feeling unaccepted or unheard, others have chosen to remain and advocate for change from within. These nuns challenge the notion that their sexual orientation makes them incapable of living a full, chaste, and faithful life. They emphasise that their sexual orientation is a gift and grace, and that they can contribute to a fulfilling and edifying community within the Church.

The Catholic Church in America, influenced by worldwide societal and cultural trends, has welcomed celibate gay and lesbian people into its church life. However, it is increasingly becoming more intolerant, even of this population. The Church's stance on homosexuality is influenced by its all-male leadership and shaped by papal interventions and theologians, including the early Church Fathers.

LGBTQ nuns speak out

In 2021, LGBTQ nuns spoke out about their experiences in the Catholic Church in a book called "Love Tenderly: Sacred Stories of Lesbian and Queer Religious". The anthology, published by the LGBTQ outreach program New Ways Ministry, features the stories of 23 lesbian and queer religious sisters from a range of backgrounds, communities, age groups, and ministries.

The book's release prompted some LGBTQ nuns to speak to the media about their experiences. Sister Mary Janet Rozzano, a lesbian Sister of Mercy, described herself as "a far cry from being an activist or militant personality". However, she added that her sexual orientation is "a gift and a grace", and that she has "done things I never dreamed I would be able to do".

Sister Mary Kay Hunyady, of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, also shared her experiences in the book. She said she struggled with the Catholic Church's position on homosexuality, especially as a psychologist:

> Ultimately, I’m one of the good lesbians, according to the Roman Catholic Church, because I’m celibate. [...] It’s bizarre to think that God puts us on this earth and a full blossoming of a part of ourselves is supposed to be denied.

The 2021 anthology is not the first book to document the experiences of LGBTQ nuns. In the 1980s, the book "Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence" was published, sharing the personal experiences of 50 religious sisters, many of whom eventually left their congregations and the Catholic Church.

Sister Jeanne Christensen, who contributed to "Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence", said:

> There is so much anger and angst in the book because [the contributors] felt so isolated and unable really to be who they were as persons. [...] [Many LGBTQ members of my congregation] didn't feel accepted or heard. We made a very clear choice of loving and staying in our community.

The Sisters' ministry of presence and support for LGBTQ people has a long history. In an essay for The National Catholic Reporter's "Global Sisters Report", New Ways Ministry co-founder Sister Jeannine Gramick wrote about nuns' support for LGBTQ people in the Catholic Church. She asserted that Catholic nuns have been LGBTQ people's "strongest supporters among institutional church people".

Lesbian nuns and their experiences

While there are no precise figures on the number of Catholic nuns who identify as lesbians, estimates suggest that at least 10% of religious sisters are gay. This percentage may even be higher, given that many women throughout history have joined convents to escape sexuality and unwanted marriages, without necessarily knowing their homosexual orientation at the time.

The topic of lesbian nuns has been historically shrouded in secrecy and silence, with sources examining convent "deviance" tending to focus on heterosexual relationships and pregnancies among sisters who have taken vows of chastity. However, in recent times, lesbian nuns have been speaking up and sharing their experiences, challenging the notion that their sexual orientation makes them incapable of leading a full, chaste, and faithful life.

One of the earliest accounts of lesbian nuns breaking their silence was in 1985 with the publication of "Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence," which included real-life accounts by 50 women, including editors Nancy Manahan and Rosemary Keefer Curb. The book brought visibility to lesbian nuns and their experiences of love and friendship within their religious communities. It also highlighted the sense of isolation and inability to be their authentic selves within the Catholic Church, leading many LGBTQ nuns to leave their congregations.

In more recent years, books like "Love Tenderly: Sacred Stories of Lesbian and Queer Religious" have continued to amplify the voices of LGBTQ nuns. This anthology shares the stories of 23 lesbian and queer religious sisters from diverse backgrounds, shedding light on the challenges they face and their determination to remain in the Church.

The experiences of lesbian nuns vary widely. Some, like Sister Mary Kay Hunyady, struggle with the Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality, while others, like Sister Alice, embrace celibacy as an important aspect of their religious life. Many former lesbian nuns, such as Jeanne Cordova, have left the Church and channeled their spiritual energies into political activism, particularly in the social justice movements of the 1970s and 1980s. Despite their varied paths, these women are challenging stereotypes and speaking out about their experiences, creating a safe space for other LGBTQ individuals within religious communities.

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