A lot of the nuns prior to Vatican II were angry, unhappy women who felt they had been pushed into the convent by family and other pressures, but it's very rare to see American nuns like that today. Some Catholic men became priests because of similar family pressure, especially in Ireland - but not as many as the nuns. But things have changed. For the most part, modern American nuns are strong, courageous women who are doing exactly what they believe they should be doing. Sister Judy, whom I affectionately refer to as "my boss," has been a nun for fifty years and has worked with the poor and homeless for over twenty years. She took two years off to work in Africa with refugees from Rwanda. She is a vivacious, attractive, intelligent woman. She loves men, and men fall all over themselves doing things for Sister Judy, and she loves it. She does what she does, because that's what she has chosen to do, not because she was ordered to do so by her superiors. She depends on her religious community for moral and emotional (and some financial) support - not for direction. Her religious community is her family that sustains her, not an organization that regulates her life. And because of complaints about this un-"orthodox" lifestyle of American nuns, the Vatican is investigating all the communities of nuns in the United States.

Several months ago, a group of five Dominican nuns attended Sunday Mass in our parish. I talked with them afterwards. Their province is in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the province has been in existence about five years. They told me, "We are faithful nuns who wear the habit." I wanted to ask them if my friend Sister Judy, who has been a nun for fifty years and does NOT wear a habit, is any less faithful. But for once, I decided to hold my tongue. These new Dominicans have many young women joining their community, and Sister Judy's order has ONE woman in "formation," preparing to become a member. I wonder why the neoconservative orders are so popular, and the reformed traditional orders like Sister Judy's have so few new members. I do have to admit that the neoconservative nuns and priests do seem very happy. I may not agree with what they're doing, but it's clear that they're doing what they want to do.

-Joe-