And they call themselves Dominicans?

No matter what they say, these Dominican women sure don't understand their faith. You see, they have posted a list of "summaries" here from their recent "One Planet People Preaching" conference earlier this year. They're all worth reading, but these two in particular stood out to me:

Example #1 -- their summary on the "young people":

Summary: The youth are used to great diversity all over the world—Looking for UNITY and looking for God because they know God can provide Unity! Age doesn’t matter, but presence of a person does.
Looking for: Inner Peace, Someone to teach them how to pray, give retreats, just someone to talk to them.
Vocation material ineffective—Call them! Let them know you are in love with the Lord!
Like communal rosary, adoration (provide silence and peace), foreign country missions, personal stories shared in a circle (not lecture style).
Let go of your past (us) and listen to our ways.
The vows are opportunities to grow closer to others.
Don’t push them to come in/Their spirituality is deep and different.

Outcome: Conversation complete. Our conversation is complete at this time and we share it through our summary. We, in this group, commit ourselves to: Listen more to our young people! and announce this to the Convocation.

Ok, let's examine this quickly -- First, I'm not really sure what to make of this, "Let go of your past (us) and listen to our ways." Are they saying that they realize that the kids don't want to hear from mostly old and non-habit wearing women? Sure seems like they are at least sensing that, but their words show how little they really get it (even if they do say that the "conversation [is] complete"). I don't think they really understand the unity that we are seeking, though they are right, we do want unity -- just HOLY unity, not some kind of "diverse/tolerant/eco-friendly/social justice-worshipping" unity that means nothing!

This little summary shows that at least they realize that they have not been reaching the young... But the very next summary shows how hopelessly entwined in their own version of "church" they are.

Example #2 - the "lack of presiders/preachers":

Summary:
We, the Convocation 2005 of the Federation of Dominican Sisters, USA, wish to express to you, our bishops and brother friars, our heartfelt concern about the increasing difficulty of access to the Eucharist for so many of the People of God.
1. The Eucharist, in both word and sacrament, is the source and summit of our faith experience.
2. The life and holiness of the local church is compromised when the Eucharist is not available to nourish the people of God.
3. We are filled with sorrow when the policies of our Church diminish access to the Eucharist.

To alleviate the injustices imposed upon the People of God, we offer these practical solutions to you, the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist and the General Chapter of the Order:
1. ordination of both married as well as unmarried men, or
2. allowing priests the option to marry, or
3. make celibacy an optional requirement for ordination
4. allow women to be ordained
5. open the deaconate to women
6. allow qualified women to both preach and administer the sacraments without ordination

Outcome:

We believe that everyone at the Convocation is ready to: adopt this statement, sending it to the U.S. Bishops and to the Master of the Order of Preachers. The person who will put this commitment before the convocation is: Dorothy Jonaitis, OP


Oh brother. For being members of the Dominican order, an order founded by St. Dominic with the charism of LEARNING THE FAITH and DEFENDING IT by PREACHING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, they sure don't sound like it! There is so much wrong with that little "summary," I would LOVE to see the looks on the faces of the US Bishops and the "Master of the Order of Preachers" when they get this little statement that "everyone" there is ready to send onward and upward.

I mean, come on. "Allow qualified women to both preach and administer the sacraments without ordination"?? Good grief. I'd love to see the rationale they have behind that one.

On top of everything, according to Barb Nicolosi (see her blog post "Fighting hard for a legacy of failure"), who happened to be at the same hotel at the conference, when she asked about attending Mass with the good sisters on Friday, she was met with quizzical expression and a "Mass? Why would we have a Eucharistic liturgy on a Friday?... We have a VERY packed schedule!"

And they call themselves Dominicans.

Lord have mercy.

St. Dominic, ora pro nobis!