Early notes by SwS:
LCWR Timeline from Vatican "mandate" to now
Note: there are two processes underway involving women religious. One is the LCWR mandate; the other is the apostolic visitation of US congregations. Items related to the LCWR are in regular font; those related to the apostolic visitation are italicized. Dates for events before 4/18/2012 come from the mandate that CDF issued to LCWR that day and from the website for the apostolic visitation.
4/8/2008: Cardinal William Levada, head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) tells LCWR that CDF will undertake a "doctrinal assessment" of LCWR.
12/22/2008: Cardinal Rode, head of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL), initiated an apostolic visitation to determine why the number of members in religious communities of women in the US has declined and to examine the quality of life in U.S. communities. (Cardinal João Braz de Aviz was named head of CICSAL in 2011.) Unlike the Pontifical Commission [often known as the Quinn Commission] in the 1980s, this process has examined the individual communities. As of June 2013, no final action has been taken by CICLSAL on the apostolic visitation.
2/18/2009: CDF names Bishop Leonard P. Blair of Toledo, Ohio to carry out its “doctrinal assessment” of the “activities and initiatives” of LCWR.
4/22/2009: CDF discusses these plans with LCWR in Rome.
5/11/2009: Bishop Leonard Blair communicated a set of doctrinal "Observations" to LCWR. He then met with the LCWR president, past president, and incoming president ("the LCWR presidency") on 5/27/2009.
10/10/2009: LCWR responded to these Observations in a letter to Bishop Blair. There was subsequent correspondence between LCWR and Bishop Blair.
12/22/2009: Bishop Blair submitted his findings to CDF. Correspondence with LCWR continued in 2010, raising new objections about LCWR. He may have submitted further documentation to CDF, e.g., an 8-page report in July 2010.
1/12/2011: The CDF and its bishop-members reviewed all documentation about the doctrinal assessment, including LCWR's response, and decided to "examine the various forms of canonical intervention available for the resolution of the problematic aspects present in the LCWR." (See
1/14/2011: Pope Benedict XVI, meeting with Cardinal Levada, approved CDF's decision.
December 2011: The final report of the Apostolic Visitation of US congregations was submitted to CICLSAL (which was then headed by Braz de Aviz and deputy Archbishop Joseph Tobin; in October 2012, Tobin is sent to Indianapolis).
4/18/2012: The Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), headed by Cardinal William Levada, issued its findings on the doctrinal assessment of LCWR and issued a mandate for "reform" of LCWR. The mandate appointed an Archbishop Delegate (Peter Sartain of Seattle), assisted by two Bishop Delegates (Leonard Blair of Toledo, and Joseph Paprocki of Springfield, IL), to reform LCWR operations and policies. LCWR issued a short statement in response.
May 2012 - US Catholics expressed overwhelming support for LCWR and Catholic sisters, holding rallies and vigils, sending messages of support, organizing Facebook and Twitter support, etc.
5/29/2012 - LCWR board began a special meeting to consider the doctrinal assessment. Thousands held rallies and vigils all over the USA, including Solidarity with Sisters' rally at the Vatican Embassy, culminating in a meeting with Papal Nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano.
6/1/2012 - LCWR issued a short statement at the conclusion of its special board meeting.
6/12/12 - LCWR president Sister Pat Farrell, OSF and executive director Sister Janet Mock, CSJ, met with Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), and Archbishop Peter Sartain. LCWR issued a short statement.
6/15/12 - LCWR board members held a special meeting on Friday evening in order to be briefed by Sisters Pat Farrell and Janet Mock regarding their 6/12/12 meeting with Cardinal Levada and Archbishop Sartain.
6/18/12 - LCWR issued a short statement about the 6/15/12 board meeting.
7/2/12 - Cardinal Levada was replaced as prefect of the Vatican's CDF by Bishop (now Archbishop) Gerhard Ludwig Muller of Regensburg, Germany.
Aug. 7 to 10, 2012 - More than 900 LCWR members (representing 57,000 US women religious) met in St. Louis, MO, for the annual LCWR Assembly. On August 10, LCWR issued a statement highlighting aspects of the Assembly's prayerful discernment process and its conclusions.
8/10/2012 - New LCWR officers took office at the end of the Assembly. The tripartite Presidency became current president Sister Florence Deacon, OSF, past president Sister Pat Farrell, OSF, and president-elect Sister Carol Zinn, SSJ. (Sister Mary Hughes, OP, who had been past president, became a former president.) Other officers: secretary Sister Barbara Blesse, OP; treasurer Sheila Megley, RSM; and executive director Janet Mock, CSJ.
8/11/2012 - Archbishop J. Peter Sartain met for the first time with the LCWR national board.
8/13/2012 - LCWR issued a short statement about the August 11 meeting.
8/16/2012 - Former LCWR president Sister Mary Hughes, OP, addressed the National Press Club, giving a clear overview of the current situation and responding to questions.
11/11/2012 - LCWR officials and all three appointed bishops met for the first time.
11/12/2012 - LCWR president Florence Deacon and Archbishop Sartain issued a joint statement, saying: "The three bishop delegates of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, Bishop Leonard P. Blair, and Bishop Thomas John Paprocki; the presidency of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), Sister Florence Deacon, OSF; Sister Pat Farrell, OSF; and Sister Carol Zinn, SSJ; and LCWR executive director, Sister Janet Mock, CSJ, met Sunday, November 11, for preliminary discussions about the doctrinal assessment of LCWR by the CDF. The discussion was open and cordial and those present agreed to meet again to continue the conversation."
4/15/2013 - At the Vatican, Sister Florence Deacon, OSF, LCWR president; Sister Carol Zinn, SSJ, LCWR president-elect; and Sister Janet Mock, CSJ, LCWR executive director; met with Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF); Archbishop Luis Ladaria, secretary of CDF; and other members of the CDF dicastery. Archbishop J. Peter Sartain was also present.... In his opening remarks, Archbishop Müller informed the group that he had met with Pope Francis who "reaffirmed the findings of the assessment and the program of reform for this Conference of Major Superiors". In its statement later that day, LCWR said that "the conversation was open and frank. We pray that these conversations may bear fruit for the good of the Church."
4/15/2013 - Also at the Vatican, Sister Florence Deacon, OSF, LCWR president; Sister Carol Zinn, SSJ, LCWR president-elect; and Sister Janet Mock, CSJ, LCWR executive director; met with officials of another Curia dicastery, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL, sometimes known as the Congregation for Religious). The LCWR officers met with prefect João Braz de Aviz; the new secretary José Rodríguez Carbal-lo, OFM; and seven other members of the dicastery staff including Hank Lemoncelli, OMI. According to Sister Janet Mock, quoted in May 2013 Update newsletter, “LCWR was received with gracious hospitality and members of the dicastery listened attentively to the concerns of the LCWR leadership.”
Aug. 13-17, 2013 - LCWR Assembly, Orlando, Florida. "Leadership Evolving: Graced, Grounded, and Free." LCWR invited Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the Papal Nuncio (Vatican ambassador) to the USA, and Archbishop Peter Sartain, apostolic delegate to oversee LCWR, to attend, and they did. Archbishop Sartain also spoke to the Assembly and then listened as sisters raised questions. LCWR had suggested that he listen rather than respond, to get a sense of sisters' views and concerns.
4/8/2008: Cardinal William Levada, head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) tells LCWR that CDF will undertake a "doctrinal assessment" of LCWR.
12/22/2008: Cardinal Rode, head of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL), initiated an apostolic visitation to determine why the number of members in religious communities of women in the US has declined and to examine the quality of life in U.S. communities. (Cardinal João Braz de Aviz was named head of CICSAL in 2011.) Unlike the Pontifical Commission [often known as the Quinn Commission] in the 1980s, this process has examined the individual communities. As of June 2013, no final action has been taken by CICLSAL on the apostolic visitation.
2/18/2009: CDF names Bishop Leonard P. Blair of Toledo, Ohio to carry out its “doctrinal assessment” of the “activities and initiatives” of LCWR.
4/22/2009: CDF discusses these plans with LCWR in Rome.
5/11/2009: Bishop Leonard Blair communicated a set of doctrinal "Observations" to LCWR. He then met with the LCWR president, past president, and incoming president ("the LCWR presidency") on 5/27/2009.
10/10/2009: LCWR responded to these Observations in a letter to Bishop Blair. There was subsequent correspondence between LCWR and Bishop Blair.
12/22/2009: Bishop Blair submitted his findings to CDF. Correspondence with LCWR continued in 2010, raising new objections about LCWR. He may have submitted further documentation to CDF, e.g., an 8-page report in July 2010.
1/12/2011: The CDF and its bishop-members reviewed all documentation about the doctrinal assessment, including LCWR's response, and decided to "examine the various forms of canonical intervention available for the resolution of the problematic aspects present in the LCWR." (See
1/14/2011: Pope Benedict XVI, meeting with Cardinal Levada, approved CDF's decision.
December 2011: The final report of the Apostolic Visitation of US congregations was submitted to CICLSAL (which was then headed by Braz de Aviz and deputy Archbishop Joseph Tobin; in October 2012, Tobin is sent to Indianapolis).
4/18/2012: The Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), headed by Cardinal William Levada, issued its findings on the doctrinal assessment of LCWR and issued a mandate for "reform" of LCWR. The mandate appointed an Archbishop Delegate (Peter Sartain of Seattle), assisted by two Bishop Delegates (Leonard Blair of Toledo, and Joseph Paprocki of Springfield, IL), to reform LCWR operations and policies. LCWR issued a short statement in response.
May 2012 - US Catholics expressed overwhelming support for LCWR and Catholic sisters, holding rallies and vigils, sending messages of support, organizing Facebook and Twitter support, etc.
5/29/2012 - LCWR board began a special meeting to consider the doctrinal assessment. Thousands held rallies and vigils all over the USA, including Solidarity with Sisters' rally at the Vatican Embassy, culminating in a meeting with Papal Nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano.
6/1/2012 - LCWR issued a short statement at the conclusion of its special board meeting.
6/12/12 - LCWR president Sister Pat Farrell, OSF and executive director Sister Janet Mock, CSJ, met with Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), and Archbishop Peter Sartain. LCWR issued a short statement.
6/15/12 - LCWR board members held a special meeting on Friday evening in order to be briefed by Sisters Pat Farrell and Janet Mock regarding their 6/12/12 meeting with Cardinal Levada and Archbishop Sartain.
6/18/12 - LCWR issued a short statement about the 6/15/12 board meeting.
7/2/12 - Cardinal Levada was replaced as prefect of the Vatican's CDF by Bishop (now Archbishop) Gerhard Ludwig Muller of Regensburg, Germany.
Aug. 7 to 10, 2012 - More than 900 LCWR members (representing 57,000 US women religious) met in St. Louis, MO, for the annual LCWR Assembly. On August 10, LCWR issued a statement highlighting aspects of the Assembly's prayerful discernment process and its conclusions.
8/10/2012 - New LCWR officers took office at the end of the Assembly. The tripartite Presidency became current president Sister Florence Deacon, OSF, past president Sister Pat Farrell, OSF, and president-elect Sister Carol Zinn, SSJ. (Sister Mary Hughes, OP, who had been past president, became a former president.) Other officers: secretary Sister Barbara Blesse, OP; treasurer Sheila Megley, RSM; and executive director Janet Mock, CSJ.
8/11/2012 - Archbishop J. Peter Sartain met for the first time with the LCWR national board.
8/13/2012 - LCWR issued a short statement about the August 11 meeting.
8/16/2012 - Former LCWR president Sister Mary Hughes, OP, addressed the National Press Club, giving a clear overview of the current situation and responding to questions.
11/11/2012 - LCWR officials and all three appointed bishops met for the first time.
11/12/2012 - LCWR president Florence Deacon and Archbishop Sartain issued a joint statement, saying: "The three bishop delegates of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, Bishop Leonard P. Blair, and Bishop Thomas John Paprocki; the presidency of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), Sister Florence Deacon, OSF; Sister Pat Farrell, OSF; and Sister Carol Zinn, SSJ; and LCWR executive director, Sister Janet Mock, CSJ, met Sunday, November 11, for preliminary discussions about the doctrinal assessment of LCWR by the CDF. The discussion was open and cordial and those present agreed to meet again to continue the conversation."
4/15/2013 - At the Vatican, Sister Florence Deacon, OSF, LCWR president; Sister Carol Zinn, SSJ, LCWR president-elect; and Sister Janet Mock, CSJ, LCWR executive director; met with Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF); Archbishop Luis Ladaria, secretary of CDF; and other members of the CDF dicastery. Archbishop J. Peter Sartain was also present.... In his opening remarks, Archbishop Müller informed the group that he had met with Pope Francis who "reaffirmed the findings of the assessment and the program of reform for this Conference of Major Superiors". In its statement later that day, LCWR said that "the conversation was open and frank. We pray that these conversations may bear fruit for the good of the Church."
4/15/2013 - Also at the Vatican, Sister Florence Deacon, OSF, LCWR president; Sister Carol Zinn, SSJ, LCWR president-elect; and Sister Janet Mock, CSJ, LCWR executive director; met with officials of another Curia dicastery, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL, sometimes known as the Congregation for Religious). The LCWR officers met with prefect João Braz de Aviz; the new secretary José Rodríguez Carbal-lo, OFM; and seven other members of the dicastery staff including Hank Lemoncelli, OMI. According to Sister Janet Mock, quoted in May 2013 Update newsletter, “LCWR was received with gracious hospitality and members of the dicastery listened attentively to the concerns of the LCWR leadership.”
Aug. 13-17, 2013 - LCWR Assembly, Orlando, Florida. "Leadership Evolving: Graced, Grounded, and Free." LCWR invited Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the Papal Nuncio (Vatican ambassador) to the USA, and Archbishop Peter Sartain, apostolic delegate to oversee LCWR, to attend, and they did. Archbishop Sartain also spoke to the Assembly and then listened as sisters raised questions. LCWR had suggested that he listen rather than respond, to get a sense of sisters' views and concerns.