The apostolic visitation and doctrinal assessment were controversial, but 10 years after those tense times, sisters say their relationship with officials in Rome is radically different.
the talk has been heated ever since the vatican ordered two sweeping investigations into the religious views and lifestyles of american nuns. investigations that have alarmed many sisters like marlene weisenbeck whose organization represents thousands of american nuns across the country. we weren t quite expecting to walk into this kind of a process that would test our authenticity and our integrity. reporter: one of the investigations involved a two-part questionnaire involving 120-detailed questions, like, what is the process for responding to sisters who dissent from teaching and discipline? how does the manner of dress of your sisters lend to the simplicity to your vocation? and this, what are the procedures for dealing with matters such as civil disobedience, criminal activity, sexual improprieties, et cetera? i think they want to be able
handling priest sex abuse cases and he s expected to meet with victims tomorrow. here in this country, the vatican squarely at odds with american nuns. many feel, the nuns that is, that they re under siege from the church, which is questioning the quality of their religious life. ask the sisters have having their say about it. carol costello live with an a.m. original. good morning, carol. good morning, kiran and drew. two sweeping investigations of american nuns. the latest round of investigations will start very soon. the vatican hopes that these investigations will help them understand the way nuns live in the united states. of course, the nuns see it in a completely different way. they think of it like some they think of it like an interrogation designed to take away all they ve gained. . some of my friends asked me reporter: on sister marlene s radio show, the role of women in the catholic church is a popular one.
truth. reporter: sister marlene hopes that s true, but there is no turning back. i don t think that that happens in any kind of living organization. god doesn t turn the church, doesn t turn creation in opposite directions. in other words, there is no turning back the clock for american nuns. i was just reading through some of the blog comments that we got in earlier this morning. cnn.com/amfix if you would like to comment on this story. and drew and kiran, many interesting comments are coming in as usual. this from peter. is this just a ploy to divert attention from the problem priests have? should that questionnaire been sent to the priests? perhaps the church should start focusing on bringing back its block. as a young practicing catholic woman, i support the church in the investigation of religious sisters. it should not be taken defensively as if the church assumes religious women are doing something wrong, but rather it should comfort