from the Detroit Free Press:
Posted: May 23, 2010
Progressive Michigan nuns under Vatican's scrutinyBY PATRICIA MONTEMURRI
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
They've taught legions of Detroit-area Catholics. They've taken on major corporations. They are watchdog nuns who have urged U.S. companies to be socially responsible.
But to the Vatican, the Adrian Dominican congregation of 850 progressive nuns may be a problem, especially under the conservative papacy of Pope Benedict XVI.
For five days this spring, a Vatican-backed team studied the Adrian Dominicans at their motherhouse in Lenawee County. They are among at least 19 sister congregations being investigated under a process called the Apostolic Visitation.
The investigation hits at a time when the Vatican is dealing with escalating criticism of its oversight of priests accused of sexually abusing children.
While church officials have said the study is necessary to account for the shrinking number of American nuns, the Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest at Georgetown University's Woodstock Theological Center, called it a "disastrous PR move by the Vatican." ...........(more)
The complete piece is at:
http://www.freep.com/article/20100523/NEWS06/5230480/1319/Progressive-Adrian-nuns-under-Vaticans-scrutiny