Nuns (not priests) evicted to pay off sex abuse settlement--do you think it's sexist, classist, or both? Why?

Question

It would make sense if the nun's convents and homes were worth a great deal of money, as compared to priest's homes, but they aren't. In LA, the nuns are some of the first ones to be evicted, not priests. The church is also pressuring the nuns not to discuss the eviction.

If the reason for the eviction was something else other than the settlement of hundreds of sexual abuse cases of children by priests, it might not be as unsavory. But doesn't it seem sexist and / or classist to evict nuns, not priests, for the payoff of sexual abuse cases that were perpetuated by priests?

Nuns' Evictions Pose Perception Problem for Catholic Church:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/03/AR2007100302353.html

Facing their convent's closure:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-nuns7sep07,1,2190234.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Answer 1

Well Yeah!!! Sexists ,classists and quite possibly illegal. The church is obviously pressuring the nuns to be silent for fear of an attempted unionization and law suit on their part. It's typical repression of women. When you've done nothing wrong in the relationship (with god in this case) you are still to be punished. Why not pay the damages by hitting the wallets of the pope, arch bishops,and the diocese itself. They are solely responsible since they are the personnel managers of the church. There needs to be an investigation as to whether Pastoral hierarchy is taking significant enough pay, benefit, and living expense cuts instead of kicking nuns out on the street.

Those making the argument that the nuns are partially responsible for the sexual abuses that have occured, please consider the following argument-

The dogma that they are taught upholds the idea that a woman is to be silent and learn from their husband or any other man placed in authority over her. Do you really think that nuns within the church have not raised questions to bishops and over-seers? The ones that did were obviously ignored or told to shut up. The ones that knew about it and kept quiet felt bound by all the submissive repressive edicts not to say anything. How can anyone lay any of the blame on them? Nuns are powerless within their system.

Answer 2

Both. And it was only a matter of time. They've pretty much run out of congregations to evict.

You're talking about a Patriarchal Hierarchy that's stuck in the Dark Ages, which they caused. So, first they take from the Peasants, then the women, then the monks, then the Priests, and only last the Bishops and Archbishops.

And it may come to that. The Church is still showing no signs of getting serious about controlling abuse. It seems to be treated as a Feudal Right.

Answer 3

Now that really sucks big time.The poor nuns who live off nothing and been helping all in the church no matter who or what they are are getting evicted so the pedophile priests can go on with their dirty deeds in their nice houses ' while the nuns are homeless hope someone can over turn this as this is sexist and just down and dirty ..

Answer 4

It's sexist for the Church to prohibit women from becoming priests. But that's a separate issue from this.

Given that the nuns are worth less than priests, it makes perfect sense for the Church to sacrifice them to save priests. If you consider "nuns" and "priests" to be "classes" then you could refer to that as classist. But that's not the proper use of the word "classes" and this isn't classist.

Answer 5

It doesn't surprise me one iota. But maybe it will help the nuns to realize just what a farce the church really is, and they can start doing something worth while with their lives instead of wasting their time being nuns.

Answer 6

I cannot believe how morally and ethically OUTRAGEOUS this is!!! And heck, you don't have to be a Catholic or a Christian or a religious person at all to see the terrible injustice here.

I have so much I could say here about it, but I think the above about sums it up.

I have so many opinions about it and yet I'm speechless.

This REALLY looks bad for the Catholic church...as if they didn't look bad enough already.

This is why I oppose organized religion.

Answer 7

Christianity has always been sexist, so it does not surprise me, Catholicism in particular. In the witch hunts they did the same. Men would die at war and their widows would be left with the property. The Catholic church wanted that property and they accused them of witchcraft to acquire their lands and homes. Yes, it's sexist and sickening!

To top it all off they killed their cats too. That's how we got the Bubonic plague. We can thank the church for that one.

Answer 8

I don't feel sorry for the nuns. I feel sorry for the kids those perverted priests ruined for life. The church will help the nuns find a place to live. What will the church do for the kids their priests ruined?

Answer 9

The Roman Catholic church has always made it abundantly clear that it considers women second class citizens. St. Thomas Aquinas stated that women could not become priests because they were, "incomplete men". They church has not changed there view since that time.

Answer 10

First. why isn't "neither" an option? Not having access to the Church's financial records or the minutes of the meeting where the decision was made, I have no idea.

Second, this is none of my business and none of your business (unless perhaps you are a practicing tithing Catholic), because this is an internal matter of a religious organization and not only are they protected under the First Amendment - making this none of the government's business - but it is a decision to which neither of us is a party.

When children are abused, that's EVERYONE'S business. When churches make decisions concerning their assets, that's between the church and its members.