Grace Thompson
In the Catholic tradition, nuns are members of enclosed religious orders and take solemn vows, while sisters do not live in the papal enclosure and take simple vows. Nuns, monks, friars, and some priests are members of such orders. Among the well-known religious orders are the Jesuits, Benedictines, Dominicans, and Franciscans. Some orders have both male and female divisions, while others have only one. A religious order must be approved by the Vatican, either directly or through a diocesan bishop, to be considered legitimate. The National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN), founded in 1969, is an example of a group of Catholic nuns advocating for women's rights, LGBT rights, and abortion rights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of organisation | Religious order |
| Members | Nuns |
| Leadership | Mother Teresa |
| Founding | 1969 by Margaret Traxler and Audrey Kopp |
| Advocacy | Women's rights, LGBT rights, abortion rights, women's ordination, contraception mandate in the Affordable Care Act |
| Opposition | Catholic Church hierarchy, Pope Francis |
| Membership | 1800 members at the peak in the early 1970s |
| Notable actions | Published a "Declaration of Independence for Women" in 1972 |
| Religious attire | Tunic, scapular, white wimple, veil, rosary, crucifix |
| Lifestyle | Recitation of the Divine Office, self-sufficient, earning money by selling goods, contemplative ministries |
| Location | Convent, monastery, nunnery |
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What You'll Learn
The National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN)
The NCAN is an organization for feminist women religious in the United States. It is known for its advocacy for women's rights, support for the Equal Rights Amendment, and opposition to the Catholic Church hierarchy, including the Pope. The NCAN has long advanced the idea that women should be fully welcomed into the priesthood and has supported reproductive justice, or a woman's right to choose what is best for her body, including the use of contraceptives and abortions. The organization also supports LGBT rights and their acceptance into the Catholic Church.
In 1972, the NCAN published the "Declaration of Independence for Women," a document outlining a five-year plan to achieve gender equality within all institutions, religious and secular. This declaration advocated for full equality for women, reformation of economic and power systems, and simple living. It emphasized that their feminism emerged directly from their faith and reaffirmed Jesus and his gospel as their life focus.
The NCAN received national attention in 1982 when Sisters Margaret Traxler, Donna Quinn, Ann Patrick Ware, and Deborah Barrett appeared on the Phil Donahue Show, opposing legislation that limited abortion. The NCAN has been at odds with other Catholic groups, such as the U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops and official Church teachings, due to its positions on abortion, LGBT rights, and women's ordination.
The NCAN is partnered with the Women-Church Convergence, which promotes diverse feminist, faith-filled voices. At its height in the early 1970s, the NCAN had approximately eighteen hundred members.
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NCAN's support for women's rights
The National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN) was founded in 1969 by Margaret Traxler and Audrey Kopp. The organization is known for its advocacy for women's rights and its opposition to the Catholic Church hierarchy. The NCAN has long advanced the idea that women should be fully welcomed into the church, including the priesthood.
One of the most notable ways NCAN has supported women's rights is through its position on reproductive justice. They strongly support a woman's right to choose what is best for her body, including the use of contraceptives and abortions. This has put them at odds with the US Roman Catholic Bishops and official Church teachings. NCAN has also challenged the Affordable Care Act by refusing insurance coverage for contraceptives for women, arguing that this violates the inherent rights and equality of all men and women.
In addition to reproductive rights, NCAN has also supported LGBT rights and women's ordination. They are partnered with the Women-Church Convergence, which promotes diverse feminist voices within the Church. NCAN has also been politically at odds with other Catholic groups due to their stance on abortion and LGBT rights.
Sister Jeannine Gramick, involved with NCAN for over 47 years, has reaffirmed the organization's support for LGBT people and social justice issues. She has spoken out against the perception of nuns as strict and repressive, instead emphasizing their role as compassionate and justice-seeking. Gramick has also stated that Catholic nuns have been LGBT people's strongest supporters within the institutional church.
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NCAN's opposition to Catholic Church hierarchy
The National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN) was founded in 1969 by Margaret Traxler and Audrey Kopp. The organization is known for its advocacy for women's rights and opposition to the Catholic Church hierarchy, including Pope Francis. The NCAN has long advanced the idea that women should be fully welcomed into the church, including the priesthood.
NCAN's stance on various issues has put it at odds with the Catholic Church's teachings and the U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops. The organization supports abortion rights, LGBT rights, and women's ordination, which are not in line with the traditional teachings of the Catholic Church. The NCAN has also challenged the Affordable Care Act by refusing insurance coverage for contraceptives for women, believing that the exclusion violates the inherent rights and equality of all individuals.
The NCAN has been vocal about the need to make women equal members of the Catholic Church. They have criticized the Church's stance on abortion and the right to autonomy for women. The nuns argued that male sperm is responsible for unplanned pregnancies, highlighting the need for a shift in perspective within the Church.
The NCAN has also been critical of the Vatican's investigation of U.S. women religious, initiated by Slovenian Cardinal Franc Rodé, referring to it as "a sign of impotence in the church hierarchy." Sister Theresa Kane, a prominent member of NCAN, has described the male hierarchy as "incapable of equality and co-responsibility in adult behavior," indicating a dictatorial mindset and spiritual violence within the institution.
The NCAN's stance on women's ordination has led to repercussions for some of its members. Charity Sr. Louise Lears, a recipient of the Margaret Ellen Traxler Award, was banned from church ministries and receiving the sacraments due to her support for women's ordination. Despite these challenges, the NCAN continues to advocate for change and representation for women within the Catholic Church.
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NCAN's support for LGBT rights
The National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN) is a feminist Catholic group that has long been an advocate for women's rights and their inclusion in the Church, including the priesthood. The organization has also been vocal about its support for LGBT rights and the acceptance of the LGBT community into the Catholic Church.
NCAN has been involved in the relationship between the Church and the LGBT community for over forty-seven years. Sister Jeannine Gramick, a member of the NCAN, reaffirms the organization's support for the LGBT community, stating that nuns have been LGBT people's strongest supporters among institutional church people. She wishes to change the stereotypical image of nuns as strict and repressive, emphasizing their role as compassionate and justice-seeking individuals. In an essay entitled the "National Catholic Reporter's Global Sister's Report," Sister Gramick draws attention to social justice issues and their relationship to the nuns in the Catholic Church. She emphasizes the need for church leaders to be pastoral leaders who are particularly concerned with the poor, the vulnerable, the gay and lesbian community, women, and the equal rights of all people.
NCAN's stance on LGBT rights has put it at odds with the U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops and official Church teachings. The organization has challenged the Church's hierarchy and opposed the Pope, including Pope Francis. They have also spoken out against the Affordable Care Act's refusal to cover contraceptives for women, arguing that this violates the inherent rights and equality of all individuals.
NCAN has received national attention for its progressive views, and its members have actively participated in campaigns and protests advocating for freedom and equality. Despite facing controversy and opposition from within the Christian community, the organization remains committed to its values of social justice and the inclusion of marginalized groups, including the LGBT community, within the Catholic Church.
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Cloistered nuns observe papal enclosure rules
In the Catholic Church, nuns are members of enclosed religious orders and take solemn vows to live together under a religious rule and the authority of a designated superior. The term "cloistered" is synonymous with "enclosed". Cloistered nuns observe "papal enclosure" rules, and their nunneries typically have walls separating them from the outside world. The nuns rarely leave, except for medical necessity or occasionally for purposes related to their contemplative life. They may receive visitors in specially built parlours, often with either a grille or half-wall separating them from visitors. They are usually self-sufficient, earning money by selling jams, candies, or baked goods by mail order, or by making liturgical items such as vestments, candles, or hosts to be consecrated at Mass for Holy Communion.
There are three different types of cloister recognised by the Church: papal cloister, constitutional cloister, and monastic cloister. The papal cloister is the strictest form of enclosure, in which a nun does not leave the boundaries of the monastery except for serious reasons. The norms defining papal enclosure are given by Rome. The constitutional cloister is generally less strict than the papal cloister. This type of cloister is practised if the community's charism joins their life of contemplation with some kind of apostolic or charitable work. The monastic cloister, created by St John Paul II in Vita Consecrata, allows for the primary function of divine worship to be associated with wider forms of reception and hospitality.
In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, once a person has made solemn, perpetual religious vows, release from these monastic vows must be approved by the ecclesiastical authorities. There is usually a transitional period, called exclaustration, in which the person establishes a new life and determines if this is what they are called to do. After this period, the appropriate authority, generally the Holy See, grants the former monk or nun release from their vows.
In the United States, the National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN) is an organisation known for its advocacy for women's rights, support for the Equal Rights Amendment, opposition to the Catholic Church hierarchy, and its positions on abortion, LGBT rights, and women's ordination. NCAN was founded in 1969 by Margaret Traxler and Audrey Kopp. At its peak in the early 1970s, it had around 1,800 members.
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Frequently asked questions
A Catholic religious order is a community of consecrated life with members that profess solemn vows to live together under a religious rule and the authority of a designated superior. Nuns, monks, friars, and some priests are members of such orders.
There is no single ruling association for Catholic nuns. Each order of nuns has its own rules and designated superior.
The NCAN is an organization founded in 1969 that is known for its advocacy for women's rights, support for the Equal Rights Amendment, and opposition to the Catholic Church hierarchy, including Pope Francis. The NCAN is also known for its support for LGBT rights and reproductive justice.
In the Catholic Church, the term "nun" is reserved for religious women who have taken solemn vows, while religious sisters are women who have taken simple vows. Nuns typically live in a papal enclosure, while sisters do not.
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