"Strong criticism of US religious orders"

"Vatican Prefect Speaks Out"



Adapted from this original source: "The Catholic World Report," December 2008.

Photo caption: "Cardinal Franc Rode, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, answers a question from the audience during the Apostolic Religious Life Symposium in North Easton, Mass., Sept.27."


"Cardinal Franc Rode, [etc. -- as above!], offered trenchant criticism of older religious orders in the US during a recent talk in Massachusetts.

"[H]e said, There are those who have opted for ways that take them outside communion with Christ in the Catholic Church, although they themselves may have opted to stay in the Church physically [Don't believe it? Check out our clergy here in St. Mary Magdalene's Catholic Parish of Brackettville, Texas! :) ].

"Criticizing the hermeneutic of discontinuity in post - conciliar religious life and pointing to the vitality of younger communities, Cardinal Rode called upon religious to be faithful to the teaching of the church, the person of the Holy Father, and the charisms of their founders."