Vatican upbraids US nuns for liberal stances

VATICAN CITY—The Vatican has upbraided a US association of Catholic clergy women for its feminist and liberal stances on contraception, homosexuality and female priests, Vatican radio said Thursday.

The report said the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Roman Catholic Church’s main dogma enforcer, had appointed an archbishop to oversee the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) after a three-year inquiry.

Peter Sartain will have “to examine, guide and approve if necessary the activities of LCWR”, the radio said, adding however that the Vatican “recognizes with gratitude the major contribution of these religious women”.

The Vatican is unhappy about LCWR’s “failure to support the teachings of the Church concerning the ordination of women and homosexuality”, the report said.

The group was also reportedly upbraided for its “silence on the right to life from conception to a natural death”.

The Vatican in January said it was “concerned” about LCWR’s stances.