Always our sister

Here’s a press release about a statement of support for Beth Johnson that we affirmed at our Federation Event.

For Immediate Release
July 13, 2011

Sisters of Saint Joseph Support Theologian Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ

(St. Louis, MO): Close to 900 Sisters and Associates of U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph gathered at the Millennium Hotel in St. Louis, MO, July 9-13, 2011. They came together in prayer, celebration, and conversation to renew and deepen their “zeal for healing the neighborhood of God’s sacred universe.”

During the Event, the Federation Leadership Council shared a statement of support for their sister, Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ, Ph.D., author of “Quest for Living God: Mapping Frontiers in the Theology of God.” In presenting the statement that was written before the event, Mary Dacey, SSJ, Co-chair of the Leadership Council, explained, “The Federation Event, which draws such a large number of our members and associates, seems to be an appropriate forum to widely express our affirmation of one of our members on both a personal and public level.” All present affirmed the following statement with a rousing standing ovation:

Statement in Support of Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ
U.S. Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph Leadership Council

As we gather on this 175th anniversary of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in the United States, celebrating the theme of “Zeal for healing the neighborhood of God’s sacred universe,” we stand with and for Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ…theologian, leader, scholar, researcher, teacher, author, speaker, colleague—and most importantly, our sister.

• We commend her integrity and dedication to the ecclesial vocation of theologian.
• We commend her spirit of collaboration, cooperation and mentoring.
• We commend her unselfish and untiring efforts to share her theological reflection and insights with the dear neighbor everywhere.
• We regret the failure of the U.S. Bishops’ Doctrine Committee to engage her in conversation about her work, even as we support her efforts to enter into that conversation now. She exemplifies the very mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph throughout history, “that all may be one.”

Together we pray for the recognition of lawful diversity called for in the conclusion of “The Pastoral Constitution on Church in the Modern World.” “Let there be unity in what necessary, freedom in what is unsettled, and charity in any case.” (#92)