First of all, there is no controversy. An American Catholic Nun (very well educated in theology, btw), wrote a book about sexuality that contradicted Catholic teachings. Obviously, this is a problem. That should come to no-one as a surprise. However, despite being decidedly uncontroversial, it is a matter of note. Disagreements within large organizations always are, regardless of their nature. So, it should come as no surprise to Catholics that the news outlets are reporting it, and that folks of all statures and means are giving their opinions about it.
In other words, there's not much to dispute, but we're talking about it anyway. That's pretty common in American news media.
I've heard John express a sentiment of annoyance with the media in general over how this is playing out in the papers and online outlets. The criticism is generally centered around how the Church hierarchy is beating up the poor nuns, and how free thought is being suppressed by "overlords" of the clergy.
My response to that is: Well, yes. That is indeed what's going on. Nuns in general aren't being attacked, but a particular set of individuals (and one individual in particular) are having their opinions and teachings (one could say false teachings) suppressed.
That's all perfectly legal and permitted of course. The Catholic Church in the U.S. is a private organization. They have their own rules, and can remove anyone from they wish from the roster, for whatever reason. That means, as long as you want to attend mass, you do so under their rules. No ones rights are violated by that, since individuals are free to leave the organization at any time. People should understand that. I hope they do.
But even if people understand that, they still find this business justifiably disgusting. The mainstream is moving farther away from some Catholic mores - particularly the emphasis on obedience. Mainstream observers find the notion that distant authorities can flex their muscles on a small strand of unorthodoxy to be crude, medieval and somewhat cowardly. Perhaps it's the Protestant influence, but I don't know.
This is what happens when cultures fall out of the mainstream, and choose to entrench instead of adapt. The minority stands still while the majority moves on. As the image gets smaller in the rear view, it becomes harder for either group to understand or sympathize with the other. In this case, the majority is finding disgust with some aspects of Catholicism (particularly the protocols of the Vatican), while the Catholic sub-culture can't understand why everyone is turning on them. They feel under siege.
Strictly speaking, neither culture is wrong or right.
It's not the apocalypse, and it's not a conspiracy, it's just.. a natural consequence. Popular values have changed. Independence of thought is more important than obedience to authority. Patience and "open-mindedness" is more important than maintaining orthodoxy. That all sounds very self indulgent and self congratulatory. I didn't mean it that way. But my point it, some of the values which the Church operates under, no longer reflect commonly accepted values in American culture. The Church and it's adherents have a right to hunker down and resist the change, but they should get used to the feeling of being misunderstood. Fringe elements are, after all, commonly misunderstood.
