Dominican congregation says sister violated vows by volunteering as abortion clinic escort

News Resources Tools Columns Documents ACI Group

Contenidos del sub-menu

Comments: 17

Sister Donna Quinn and standing with another abortion clinic escort (L to R)

Chicago, Ill., Nov 3, 2009 / 10:33 pm (CNA).- Responding to the charges that one of its sisters was volunteering as an escort at a Chicago-area abortion clinic, the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation says it has informed Sister Donna Quinn, OP, that her actions are in violation of her vows. The congregation also expressed regret for the controversy and public scandal her efforts have caused.

The Nov. 2 statement says that the congregation’s leadership was informed of Sr. Quinn’s actions several months ago.

“We as Sinsinawa Dominican women are called to proclaim the Gospel through the ministry of preaching and teaching to participate in the building of a holy and just society,” the statement continued. “As Dominican religious, we fully support the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding the dignity and value of every human life from conception to natural death. We believe that abortion is an act of violence that destroys the life of the unborn. We do not engage in activity that witnesses to support of abortion.”

LifeSiteNews.com reported that pro-life advocates at the ACU Health Center in Hinsdale, Illinois recognized Sr. Quinn as a clinic escort after seeing her picture in a Chicago Tribune article.

She is presently a coordinator of the National Coalition of American Nuns, which dissents from Catholic teaching on abortion, contraception, the male priesthood and homosexuality.

She has reportedly called gender discrimination “the root cause of evil in the Church, and thus in the world.” Sr. Quinn has commented that she remains in the Dominican community only for “the sisterhood.”

The Vatican has organized an apostolic visitation in order to “comprehensively assess and encourage the growth” of women religious institutes in the United States.

Comments: 17

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Rory Flick
California 11/05/2009 07:56 PM EST

This woman is an abomination to the Church, Based on her actions and comments, she is clearly NOT Catholic and must be immediatly excommunicated.

Published by: nj bartolini
florida 11/04/2009 07:43 PM EST

Donna Quinn quit hiding behind your Orders which you have reduced to nothing. You do all of us, that love and follow our Catholic faith, a great diservice. What is lacking in you and other female religious, all the anger because you can not be a Priest. What is the deal do you think God has a better place for them in Heaven than us females? Now really grow up and leave .

Published by: Ted Fay
Dallas, TX 11/04/2009 06:10 PM EST

I pray for Sr. Quinn, especially for her repentance and for mercy on her soul. For my little part, I forgive her, and trust that her superiors will take the correct actions. As for calls for excommunication, I urge anyone having this position to be careful. Christ said to judge not, lest you be judged. Excommunication is *horrible* as it may very well lead to *eternal damnation.* I do not wish that on anyone, even for those who have performed objectively gravely evil acts, such as Sr. Quinn's actions.

Published by: Pat
panama City, FL 11/04/2009 05:55 PM EST

She seems to have already made her decision on her status since she publicly says she only remains in the order for the 'sisterhood'. Her public denial of the the teachings of the church should have long ago ended her affiliation with the order. She is an example of why the Catholic church is crumbling, true Catholics are leaving because they are being allowed to believe the this is the norm and accepted now. The Bishops have done little to be outspoken about people like this and they have not reached out to those who still try to live their faith. They have allowed the church to be the target of liberals and then encourage us to fall into the same mindset by supporting government intrusion into our churches and private lives. They should take a stand and correct these issues in public and correct the statements of public officials who misquote the teachings of the church then the faithful.

Published by: Josephine
Dubuque, IA 11/04/2009 04:19 PM EST

Rate: Bad

Sr. Quinn should be commended for her work assisting victims of the thugs intimidating women. These thugs feign concern for fetuses but would rather see them created and killed than to assist in the prevention of unintended pregnancies, the reason for abortions. It's not surprising that the Vatican has initiated an inquisition considering that it is the most mysogenist organization in the world.

Published by: Josephine
Dubuque, IA 11/04/2009 04:17 PM EST

Published by: Steve
Westchester, NY, USA 11/04/2009 03:16 PM EST

A quote from an elderly Sister of Charity who said this in the early 1990's: "The problem with women religious today is that we took in too many women we should not have, and we didn't throw out the ones we should have." Ms (Sister) Donna Quinn is a fine example of her point.

Published by: Jocille
Yachats, OR, USA 11/04/2009 01:53 PM EST

Donna Quinn needs to be told to leave the Dominicans immediately. And excommunication is in order. She is a disgrace in the eyes of God. It's sad to hear that her superiors knew of this and did nothing until it became public. They need to seek God's forgiveness as they, too are guilty of murdering the unborn by their silence.

Published by: HOPE F.
VA/USA 11/04/2009 01:34 PM EST

Definitely, she should be removed from the Dominican Order, laicized, or whatever it is called. She has already broken her vow of Obedience at least, and brought much scandal to the Catholic Church and the religious order(s)within it. How can a person who dissents for Catholic Teaching on Life issues especially, and in public, no less, be considered a member of a Catholic Religious Order?? Enough is enough, it is time for the Vatican to start cracking down on these types!

Published by: Joan L. Roccasalvo
Bronx 11/04/2009 12:49 PM EST

Scandal, one of the seven deadly and capital sins, corrupts the Church from within and is corrosive to the culture at large.

Published by: Pat Becker
Londonderry,NH 11/04/2009 11:32 AM EST

May God be merciful to Ms Quinn,and may her spiritual director,help her to return to the faith and teachings of the Catholic Church,or leave her order. This type of behavior is a scandal that has gone on for too many years,in some of our religious orders.

Published by: Andrew Nelson
Columbia, SC USA 11/04/2009 10:31 AM EST

This order only does something when it is made public. This is the same problem the Church had with the priest abuse scandal. Sin & disobedience needs to be confronted. Looking the other way only makes it worse. The truth will always come out in the end.

Published by: myles keogh
Fort Riley Kansas 11/04/2009 08:46 AM EST

She needs to either take a long sabbatical to meditate and listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit about her thoughts and actions or she needs to leave the Church. She is causing great dissension and confusion among some members of the faith as well as giving aid and comfort to evil.

Published by: Louis
Singapore 11/04/2009 07:58 AM EST

She goes to abortion clinics to help lead mothers to kill the preborn. She dissents from Catholic teaching on abortion, contraception, male priesthood and homosexuality. There is a word for that, Heretic.

Published by: For Sale
Body/Parts/Abortica 11/04/2009 04:46 AM EST

By the grace of God, the Blesséd Virgin Mary was not a Sinsinawa Dominican nun.

Published by: lucy
McKinney, TX, USA 11/04/2009 01:40 AM EST

Wolf in sheep's clothing. She needs prayers.

Published by: Francis
Wareham Ma 11/03/2009 11:56 PM EST

"Sister" Donna Quinn should be excommunicated ASAP! It would be nice if all Catholic sisters would not only uphold the dogmas of the Catholic Church, but also return to wearing their habits so they look like Catholic Nuns also!

ADD A COMMENT (Your e-mail will NOT be published):


NAME:
CITY/STATE/COUNTRY:
EMAIL:
COMMENT:

PLEASE ENTER THE SECURITY CODE DISPLAYED ABOVE:
Chars:

* Thanks for your comments. The number of messages that can be online is limited. Length should not exceed 1500 characters. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages.

ADVERTISING
CNA does not necessarily endorse these advertisers. Please proceed with discretion. If you feel that a website announced has inappropriate or offensive content, please send it by e-mail to catholicna@catholicna.com