Sister Act

Don't get me wrong, I know there are sincere, dedicated nuns out there. But I'm not talking about them in this post. Abuse cases by Catholic nuns are obviously not as prevalent as are abuse cases by priests, but they do happen. And they are no better than anyone else - priest, bishop, etc. - in a Church position of trust that betrays innocent children. Abuse is abuse is abuse, whether by man or woman.

I have heard numerous stories from people older than I who recall the angry mean nuns of Catholic school with their rulers and furrowed brows. I only went to Catholic school for Kindergarten and 1st grade, but I also recall the stern scoldings the class would get from a Sister - I don't recall what for, but perhaps just for being unruly kids.

A couple years ago for a short time I volunteered to mentor and hang-out with at-risk kids at a local Catholic convent / former orphanage. It was a huge old brick facility and some Catholic nuns still lived there, retired and living rent-free in the building. There were rape / abuse counseling rooms on the lower level where sessions would be held with professionals as well as other crisis-centered groups. When touring the facility, I asked the manager if the nuns ever come downstairs to talk to the children or help with counseling, speaking to the victims or women or anything like that. She said [paraphrased] "You'd think that, but none of the Sisters here want anything to do with any of it. They get around fine but they like to be left alone and prefer not to deal with anyone." I was semi-shocked. I thought when a nun took her vows it was for life, not just up until age 65. How disappointing it was to hear that. I have to question the motives of a nun who takes vows for life and then stops caring after retirement, especially when the needs of those are so close at hand. Walk down the stairs and continue God's work.

Being a nun could be a good career for the woman who is a hermit, closet lesbian or who just wants to do as little as possible and coast by in life, while still retaining a level of respect...and I have a sinking feeling that this type of motive is the rule rather than the exception. I don't know, I could be wrong.

Nun who taught in Chicago pleads no contest to abuse

ChicagoTribune.com - 1:24 PM CST, November 12, 2007

A Sister of Mercy nun who taught in Chicago-area Catholic schools for more than three decades has pleaded no contest to two counts of indecent behavior with a child. The incidents involved male students at a Milwaukee elementary school where she was principal in the 1960s. A complaint filed against 79-year-old Norma Giannini says many of the incidents took place at a church convent and the St. Patrick's School office while the boys were middle school age. Giannini, a Chicago native, later worked in Illinois. The Sisters of Mercy removed her from service in December 1992 when the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee notified them of allegations against her. At that time, she was principal of Most Holy Redeemer School in Evergreen Park. She began teaching in 1949 and served at parish schools including St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge, St. Catherine in Oak Park and the now-closed St. Finbarr in Chicago until 1964. After her stint in Milwaukee, she returned to Illinois in 1969 and served at Christ the King in Chicago until 1972. She then worked at Mother McAuley High School until 1977, finishing there as one of four deans before becoming principal of Little Flower on the South Side. After Mother McAuley, she moved to St. Clare of Montefalco in Chicago, then became principal of Holy Redeemer in 1989. The two boys connected to the charges in Milwaukee, who are now adults, say Giannini had sexual contact with them dozens of times. Sister Betty Smith, regional president for the Sisters of Mercy in Chicago, says the nun received counseling after the sisters learned of the accusations in the 1990s. She says Giannini has been closely monitored and separated from minors since then.