Pope to sisters: living with Jesus outside Church is absurd

May 8, 2013 - 10:01 am .- Pope Francis told leaders of women’s religious orders today that their vocations can only be recognized within the fold of the Church.

Vatican doctrine office confused by cardinal's LCWR comments

May 7, 2013 - 08:03 am .- The Vatican’s doctrine congregation has released a statement saying the media misreported a cardinal’s remarks about the ongoing reform of a group of American sisters, but an inside source at the department says it is confused because the matter is their "exclusive responsibility."

Pope backs reform of US sisters' leadership conference

Apr 15, 2013 - 07:02 am .- Pope Francis has reaffirmed the Vatican’s assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which found it had “serious doctrinal problems” and needed to be reformed.

LCWR meets archbishop, says way of life must not be compromised

Aug 14, 2012 - 04:40 pm .- The Leadership Conference of Women Religious has begun talks with the archbishop tasked with its reform, but says it will not make fundamental changes to its expression of consecrated religious life.

Religious sisters' conference plans to continue Vatican dialogue

Aug 10, 2012 - 05:31 pm .- Sister Pat Farrell told participants in the Leadership Conference of Women Religious assembly that talks with the Vatican will go on so long as the group is not made to change its goals.

LCWR's evolutionary leadership will help determine future, keynote speaker says

Aug 9, 2012 - 11:20 am .- The keynote speaker at the annual Leadership Conference of Women Religious assembly assured the sisters that their qualities of “evolutionary leadership” will serve them well in their future decisions.

Archbishop urges avoidance of politics as LCWR convenes

Aug 7, 2012 - 08:05 pm .- As the Leadership Conference of Women Religious gathers for its annual assembly, Archbishop Robert J. Carlson of St. Louis, Mo. said that talks over the Vatican's report on the group should stay within the context of the Church and not be politicized.

LCWR officials brief leaders on 'difficult' Vatican meeting

Jun 21, 2012 - 12:47 am .- Officers of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious said that their June 12 meeting with Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith officials was “difficult” because of “differing perspectives” but they were able to express their concerns “with openness and honesty.”

Sisters of Mercy doctors say LCWR is injecting politics into dialogue

Jun 14, 2012 - 02:15 am .- Physicians who are also Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma are criticizing the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and its defenders for using an impoverished “language of politics” instead of “the language of faith” in the dialogue with the Catholic hierarchy.

Vatican describes talks with US sisters as 'open and cordial'

Jun 12, 2012 - 11:11 am .- The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has described talks with the Leadership Conference of Women Religious as open and cordial.

Archbishop Sartain stresses dedication to addressing religious sisters' issues

Jun 1, 2012 - 04:35 pm .- Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle says he is dedicated to addressing concerns regarding the Leadership Conference of Women Religious “in an atmosphere of openness, honesty, integrity and fidelity to the Church’s faith.”

LCWR accuses Vatican investigation of using 'flawed process'

Jun 1, 2012 - 09:42 am .- The national board of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious is arguing that the Vatican’s recent assessment of the organization was “based on unsubstantiated accusations and the result of a flawed process that lacked transparency.”

Pope praying for renewal of US women religious

May 18, 2012 - 04:45 pm .- Pope Benedict XVI says he is praying that a renewal of female religious life in the United States will “recapture a sense of the sublime dignity and beauty of the consecrated life.”