CARA 2015 Report

[Thijs]

The report states that 411 people entered religious institutes in 2015: 218 men reported by the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, 120 women reported by the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, 54 women reported by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, and 19 new entrants into contemplative communities of women. Of those, 279 individuals responded to CARA's survey.

I believe that Daughters of St Paul and IHM, the habited one is both members of CMSWR and LCWR?

This one on the reports bothers me so;

Only seven respondents report that their members wear habits for other reasons, including:  At the discretion of the individual  I'm not clear about it  It seems discouraged  I don’t know  Depending on work (Outside or inside institution)  A choice – habit modified dress  Technically required, but people ignore that and treat it as optional

[Gabriela]

4 hours ago, Thijs said:

This one on the reports bothers me so;

Only seven respondents report that their members wear habits for other reasons, including:  At the discretion of the individual  I'm not clear about it  It seems discouraged  I don’t know  Depending on work (Outside or inside institution)  A choice – habit modified dress  Technically required, but people ignore that and treat it as optional

Why does that bother you? I think it's good that's only 7%.

[Thijs]

2 minutes ago, Gabriela said:

Why does that bother you? I think it's good that's only 7%.

habits are being discourage or ignored. anyway, pray for them. 7% is still a good number

[Feankie]

If I were looking at an Order I would concentrate on other things about an Order beside it's externals, eg.  Habit, profession rings, bridal gown at Investiture, hair cutting, etc.  What about it's charism, faithfulness to the Magisterium for example?  You have to go to the heart and soul of an Order to determine it's viability for you.  You could have an Order with all the "extras" but yet have few vocations, or if it does attract vocations, they don't stay for whatever reason.  Look at the CMRI, who are clearly sedevancantist.....they have beautiful habits, beautiful ceremonies, rings, all the bells and whistles and so..........Looks can be deceiving:)

[josephine]

Please, not the habit discussion again! 

Many active orders and congregations were wearing, at that time, simple normal lay people's clothing. In that case it is very faithful to not wear a habit, but to wear simple normal lay people's clothing today as well.

It has been said before, but apparently it cannot be repeated enough: the habit doesn't make or break a good religious community.

 

[MarysLittleFlower]

Personally I discern with communities with habits not because they are pretty or something but because those communities tend to have other things I'm looking for. Also I think its really meaningful that a habit is not just clothing but gets blessed and symbolises different things. Also I think its meaningful for nuns to wear veils, and there is a public witness aspect to it. So yes there are good Sisters in non habited orders too but I see habits as something spiritually meaningful not just visually appealing also to me it just reinforces leaving the world and all your possessions. I know they say habits originated with peasant clothing but still to me it has that meaning now

[josephine]

MLF, i think that there is a huge difference between saying: for me, personaly, i see this beautiful symbolism in a habit and i would like to join an order wearing one. and saying: O no, look at all these religious communities not wearing habits! how dare they! They are definetely a bad community, not wearing habits and all. 

The first is a personal preference. Just like certain types of music. Or colors. You may have good arguments why you like that particular thing over the other options. But that doesn't mean that everything else is wrong, or even that the Lord will not call you to something else. I believe it was our own sister Mary Catherine who once wrote how she loved the elaborate gregorian chant of the benedictines...yet God called her to be a dominican.  

The second is a judgement. Just because a community doesn't adhere to your preferences, doesn't mean that the community is bad and the people in it are not faithfull catholics. To say so is a very disrespectful to the men and women who have given their whole lives to Jesus in service of the Church and their neighbours. And unfortunately, it happens way too often.

 

[Gabriela]

First of all, who in this thread said that no habit = bad sisters? MLF said just the opposite. Let's all keep our scapulars on, okay?

Secondly, the habit is not just "an external". It is symbolic of something inward. Many orders say prayers over the different pieces of the habit as they put them on at the beginning of the day, to remind them of their vows, their vocation, their special role in the Church, etc. It's as unfair to say the habit is "just an extra" as it is to say "no habit = bad sisters". Nobody said the latter, but somebody did say the former.

If we could all stop reacting to the type of person we're assuming would say X, and instead could start responding to the actual person who said X—and not all those other things you're assuming "must" go along with it—then we could all actually have a productive discussion. Or at least, a charitable one.

Finally, I think we can foresee this is going to wind up in the Debate Table. Why don't we just send it there as a pre-emptive measure?

[TheresaThoma]

13 hours ago, Gabriela said:

Why does that bother you? I think it's good that's only 7%.

Sorry data geek correction here

That is not seven percent that is 7 respondants out of 279 which is actually 2.5%

[Gabriela]

14 minutes ago, TheresaThoma said:

Sorry data geek correction here

That is not seven percent that is 7 respondants out of 279 which is actually 2.5%

Even better!  

[Thijs]

Let's not debate about the habit but rather discuss it in light of vocation, service and witness it may provide. I, myself is in favor of wearing a habit for religious of both men and women but I also admire the sisters especially who are faithful to the Church sans not wearing one like the Apostles of Interior Life or Missionaries Servants of the Blessed Trinity (especially Sr Sara Butler).

I'll post the link below and please prayerfully discern and reflect each thoughts that were contributed on this link;

https://www.facebook.com/FrJamesMartin/posts/400183830088785