Customer Reviews

Prophets in Their Own Country: Women Religious Bearing Witness to the Gospel in a Troubled Church

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Talk about a lioness and her cubs!
Sister Sandra is a fearless, accurate and totally refreshing author. Her book is divided into three parts.
1. A detailed report of the Vatican's recent inquisition into the affairs of American religious sisters and the latters' reaction to it. "Being under seige as a problem in and to the Church they love and serve is profoundly unnerving and demoralizing." "What could possibly justify such universal suspicion?"
2. A compilation of articles previously published in the National Catholic Reporter pointing out the impossible and medieval practices of the apostolic orders in the past who were forced by the hierarchy to lead cloistered lives while struggling with the demanding problems of the needy.
3. She refers to Vatican 11 (which I conclude that she feels, as many of us do, was inspired by the Holy Spirit) that the calling to religious life requires a vow of obedience. While the clergy vow obedience to the hierarchy, religious take a vow of obedience to God..."a commitment to continuous discernment...sometimes not only diffrerent from but opposed to what is 'on the books' of the official Church." She elaborates a great deal on this point. Her conclusions relate not only to sisters but also to all the faithful. Whether or not you care about the sisters and their plight, this section alone is worth reading if you are a humanist.
My favorite quote..."the new will continue to happen. At this moment, we are it."
I loved the book. What a voice! I read it in four hours in one sitting.
Good luck, gentlemen. You are pitted against amazing foes, as the author points out. Although the nunbers have decreased, the spirit has not.
Make no mistake. Sister Sandra is not only a precise scholar, but she is determined, an engaging author, never dry, especially when her ire and humor collide.
My money is on the sisters.

At this time the Roman Catholic Church leadership needs to be reminded of what is important in todays world. Sandra Schneiders speaks with clarity, courage and is
a true teacher.
Diane

I read the articles in this book earlier and was fascinated. This book pulls them all together in a very understandable format