Hello

[Aiza]

Howdy Aiza.

What’s your take on the Vatican’s bitch slapping of the LCWR?

Well first of all, I think "bitch slap" is a poor choice of words!

I have mixed feelings and I could write a lot on the subject. I know some sisters who are from orders represented by the LCWR and they were a large inspiration for me when I converted and also when discerning to be a sister. I am visiting one of their convents this weekend actually (very excited!!). They have dedicated themselves to God, the same as any other sister, and they represent a lot of amazing, strong and intensely charitable women. I even thought about joining one of their orders, and still sort of am drawn to it in a way.

But I'd be lying if I said that the organization is always 100% devout. I could PM you if you want some concrete examples, but I am not even sure if you could appreciate the differences. Here is an example of a religious order of Benedictine sisters who are represented by the LCWR and here is an example of an order of Benedictines who are represented by the CMSWR, a more traditional parallel organization to the LCWR which was established in the early 90s as a response to so many orders in the LCWR removing their habits, no longer living in community, no longer praying the liturgy of the hours, etc. You may not be able to tell the difference, but the fastest growing orders are in the CMSWR, and the new members are younger as well. It isn't necessarily about the clothes or getting to wear a habit (though such a thing is so lovely and definitely something I desire in my future community!), but it's the level of devotion. Where is Our Lord and the Eucharist? Where is Our Lady and the Saints? It feels cold and generic and sad to me.

I could talk a lot about my experiences at different LCWR convents and I think I already talked a bit on af.com. But I won't bore you more than I already have.

Its not like its being forcibly disbanded--its just being changed and I can only hope they come out stronger for it. I know that liturgy of the hours and the Eucharist for example, are supposed to now have a priority at LCWR events and I am so excited about that!

What's hard to believe is that a strong atheist, someone who is completely sure that there is no god, someone who could go as far as to claim to know would turn to the Catholic faith so easily.

What convinced you that there is a god? What brought you from a strong atheist to a theist?

Like I said, I went from strong atheist to weak atheist; and then from weak atheist to theist. A lot of arguments for strong atheism (all the ones I am familiar with), are flawed once you gain a solid understanding of the internal workings of religion. The best I had as a weak atheist was Russell's teapot, which I still think is probably the most...legitimate of the atheist arguments. But then I also realized that if I really did replace God with a teapot in space, I would have no problem whatsoever in believing.

And its also a rather intense emotional transformation as well, though I am sure you know that.