We wanted to do a show about nuns — not just the battle between the Vatican and the LCWR (and Margaret Farley) but larger show about what it means in 2012 to be a nun.
Our original notion was that only nuns would be on the show. We had the specific goal of getting at least one traditionalist nun who was not out of communion with the Vatican. We invited a total of 25 nuns. We got only two affirmatives. Eventually the Archdiocese informed us that it was instructing nuns not to do the show.
I will say the obvious: that’s a stupid strategy because instead of the broad-spectrum show we had in mind, we wound up talking only to the kinds of nuns who don’t ask for permission. And they were so lovely and strong and soulful and eloquent and charismatic that they made you want to follow them on some unprecedented adventure fusing faith and action. And they made the church leadership seem pointless and inflexible.
Anyway, do listen. We loved this show.
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14 Responses to Our nun show
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“Eventually the Archdiocese informed us that it was instructing nuns not to do the show.”
How did they express this? And did they offer an explanation?
The show was professional. I think the Diocese expected the tone of the show to be along the lines of “they made the church leadership seem pointless and inflexible” and possibly have “she who shall remain nameless” asking inflammatory questions or calling in.
In other words — a set up and lynching.
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Oh..and tort reform is necessary. I hear all the same arguments that were used in the days before no fault auto-insurance. Lawyers haven’t had an original thought on the issue since the first dollar sign appeared in 1770.
No fault mediation is the way to go with strict limits as in New Zealand.
Weicker repealed CTs no fault law in 1993 which was written by current Attorney General George Jepsen which somehow seems symbolic of the present crop of CT Democrats.
http://articles.courant.com/1993-07-02/news/0000007781_1_no-fault-insurance-law-health-insurance-auto-insurance
Another historical problem with the legislature: too many lawyers.
Quoting the Courant from June 3 1993 –
Trial Lawyers Win On No-fault
June 03, 1993
Surprise, surprise. Trial lawyers are about to get their way in the Connecticut Legislature, which appears set to eliminate no-fault automobile insurance. Connecticut’s automobile-insurance rates are among the five highest in the country.
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According to the state legislature CT is still among the most expensive states for insurance generally bouncing around from 5th to 12th in the last decade. The biggest differentiator–medical costs and paperwork including legal.
The unfortunate circumstances do not release NPR of the journalistic obligation to provide equal time to the Vatican opposition. Somewhere out there, there must be a strong, soulful charismatic and eloquent priest or bishop or Catholic theologian who IS in communion with the Vatican. Not all Catholics are apostates. NPR should find a couple of these types and give them equal air time so that the church might seem less pointless and inflexible.
The Church has all the power and money it needs to make its voice heard.
ps: Does that mean that if NPR does a show opposing pedophilia, then NAMBLA must be given equal time?
that’s absurd. the church turned down their opportunity at equal time by telling nuns not to go on the air. Should npr go over the head of the archdiocese and call the vatican?
Issuing 25 invitations takes care of their obligation.
There are some brilliant passionate minds out there–Helen Alvare is one–who can speak about abortion and sexuality and the sins of modernity with passion and grace. Navarre is a law professor at George Mason and worked for the Council of Bishops for years and a former staple of EWTN in the Clinton era.
http://tinyurl.com/6py2gtv
An Alvare clip from A Frontline debate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCtcETynGhQ&feature=related
A brilliant repartee towards the end of this 6 minute clip on rape exceptions for abortion.
At least in the context of the Colin’s show the Helen Alvare’s might be the modern day nuns. The outlet for religious passion isn’t restricted to a monestary or joining an order.
I don’t agree, Don.
We were NEVER out to do a show about the controversy.
We wanted to do a show about the religious life.
And if you listen to the show — which I encourage you to do — there’s really nobody talking smack about the Vatican.
You don’t have to provide a platform on the same show. Let’s suppose I invite a Republican and a Democrat to talk on a show about, say, Obamacare and the Republican, for whatever reason, fails to show. I proceed with the show because, well, the show must go on. Under these circumstances – even supposing that the Democrat does not talk smack about the Republican Party – do I have a continuing obligation to provide what some might call the Republican view on Obamacare? I say yes. And why on earth would a nun talk smack about the Vatican?
I heard the program, and I also read the sidebar stories you provided concerning the controversy between some nuns and the Vatican on the roll of the Magisterium concerning Catholic doctrine.
The role of The Grand Inquisitor was best illustrated by Dostoyevsky when the young and naive returning Christ was told he was dead and would stay that way
Christ was no longer needed by The church and only The Church could do the awful deed that had to be done–deny earthly freedon and rule with death and destruction creating martyrs and weeding the few capable of salvation.
This is an old conversation
The role of women religious is one small part.
While there is no such thing as the War On Women, the same cannot be said of the media’s War On Catholics. It’s every day now. Media Liberals for all their talk of diversity simply refuse to share the same planet as practicing Catholics.
Catholics are almost exclusively Democrat, yet they are treated by the media as Right Wing Extremists.
Why is it the mission of the media to destroy what it means to be Catholic? I am not Catholic, but if being Catholic makes practicing Catholics happy, who are us outsiders to try to change/ destroy their religion? We don’t do this to Islam and we don’t try to force vegetarians to eat meat. Why can’t we let Catholics be Catholic? If it’s not bigotry, what is it?
“While there is no such thing as the War On Women,”
That’s a joke, right?