The Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released a report on April 18, 2012 that is highly critical of the U.S. Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). The report, as well as the news release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, also implicates NETWORK, in that it calls for a review of LCWR’s affiliation with NETWORK along with reform of LCWR. (See www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-062e.cfm)

Since NETWORK was founded by women religious (a.k.a. Catholic sisters) 40 years ago, we have maintained a close relationship with LCWR. We will continue our solidarity as we continue to serve people who are marginalized, and advocate for human dignity and the common good. We do not know what the future holds, but we will not let our voice be silenced.

Many people are asking what they can do during this uncertain time in our church and our nation. We offer this partial list of suggestions, confident that people will find other creative ideas as we all pay attention to the Spirit moving among us.

• Reflect and pray
• Stay connected with NETWORK and make your faith voice heard in the public square. Go towww.networklobby.org and click on the “Join our email list” box in the right column to sign up.
• Participate in “Election 2012: Catholics Vote for the Common Good” — Sign the National Preamble and find other ways to get involved at http://commongood2012.org/
• Donate to NETWORK (www.networklobby.org/donate)  and LCWR (www.lcwr.org)
• Tell the stories about the work Catholic sisters are doing.
• Use social media – Facebook and Twitter – to share your thoughts
  www.facebook.com/networklobby
  www.facebook.com/SupportOurCatholicSisters
  Use Twitter hashtags #SupportOurSisters and #WhatSistersMeanToMe
• Write something about NETWORK on the “great nonprofits” website:http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/profile2/the-network
• Write letters-to-the-editor to local newspapers and/or national magazines – respond to articles about the needs of people and show how Catholic women respond. See http://capwiz.com/networklobby/dbq/media/for media contact information.
• Write to the USCCB: www.usccb.org/about/contact-us.cfm or 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017
• Write to your bishop — see www.usccb.org/about/bishops-and-dioceses/all-dioceses.cfm for addresses
• See http://ncronline.org/SistersUnderScrutiny for latest news and links