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Lisbet
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We have the opportunity to join a local CSA farm. There are very few in our area and all of them offer very limited shares, so this is a rare opportunity. I have looked over the harvest list, the cost is agreeable, and I have been looking for this type of thing to come along for a long time. They are really bending over backwards to get us to join, Sr. Sharon has taken a liking to the idea of our family.
The moral dilemma - it is run by the IHM Sisters. They have some very questionable things on their site.  Do I support this with our hard earned money? Granted the local health food store I shop at is laden with pagan-ish, new age-y fodder, my massage therapist is an active pagan. So, I'm just not sure if this is morally permissable?
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Leocea
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I looked at the site, but am not sure what part you found objectionable. What exactly is the program/mission that is the problem?
I am not familiar with their group.
It IS hard to decide where our money goes! If we had more information, we could give you a better idea of what we would do.
In Christ,
Leocea
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Lisbet
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| Posted: July 08 2008 at 4:38pm | IP Logged
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Well, Sr. Mary Ellen Sheehan is a 'Feminist Theologian', and she is part of and very well respected in their community. They also link to "Women Priest" website, and I am wary of their "ecological spirtuality". KWIM?
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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donnalynn
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Hi Lisa -
Are you sure the CSA is actually run and farmed by the Sisters?
I belong to a CSG where the land is leased by the CSG and runs independently from the "Ecological Learning Center" that is run by a group of rather radical Benedictine nuns. We don't support the Center but we do feel we are supporting the gardeners, their families and this alternative method of food production.
I would also consider how your family could really be a statement to the openness of life - so many ecological and environmental movements have a population control mentality - I think it is good to have folks see the beautiful faces of many children.
Perhaps you could find out how much of the money from the farming actually goes to supporting the Sisters or their other programs - I think many CSA's have the goal to be self sufficient but generally they are not big money makers for other programs, KWIM?
I know I have wrestled with the same issue since coming back to the Church - it is difficult - but I'm pretty comfortable with where the actual money goes in our case - I think the amount of money paid to lease the land is a pittance - more a legal formality than anything else.
There have been so many benefits to our family - we have been getting fresh veggies for about 13 years now - the gardeners have watched our children grow up. Our children have learned so much from our visits in all seasons and weather to "the Garden".
Prayers for you as you consider this opportunity!
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donnalynn
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Victoria in AZ
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Are the IHM sisters in communion with the Roman Catholic Church? I could not find this answer in my short search of the website. If not, it seems they were at one time? They could be more clear about that. If they have left the RC Church, that is different than the ignorance of a pagan. Leaving the Church is to break communion and to cause pain.
I see your dilemma. If you say no to this farm program, do you have to investigate the background of every farmer you do business with? If IHM is no longer Catholic, your family might be one shining light of example of living faith in the Catholic Church. This one I would have to ask my priest. Then be honest with IHM.
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Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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Elizabeth
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They certainly once were. When I was in high school, they staffed the grammar school where my mother worked. They wore full habits. And our dear friend was Sr. Michael Dennis. Her "real name" was Mary Ellen. Don't know about the Sheehan part. Lisa, you have me going down a major rabbit trail, trying to figure out how this order changed so much...
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Lisbet
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Elizabeth,
I don't know if it is the same Sr. Mary Ellen or not. Sr. Mary Ellen Sheehan spoke at a local church a few years ago, and there was much controversy. Just google "Sr. Mary Ellen Sheehan and you'll see what I mean...
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Lisbet
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Um, yeah, Elizabeth, I think it may be the very same Sr. I found a Michael Dennis Sheehan MD in Richmond VA -
I wonder what happened??
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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sarahb
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I couldn't find anything too odd there. The election 2008 guide was vague but Humanae Vitae was inlcuded on that page as were other treatises on catholic consistancy from conception til death...
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JennGM
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Elizabeth wrote:
| They certainly once were. When I was in high school, they staffed the grammar school where my mother worked. They wore full habits. And our dear friend was Sr. Michael Dennis. Her "real name" was Mary Ellen. Don't know about the Sheehan part. Lisa, you have me going down a major rabbit trail, trying to figure out how this order changed so much... |
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I've been down this rabbit trail, Elizabeth. It's so disheartening. Here's an interesting article which I just skimmed, but the order broke into 3 divisions. The Scranton community, I believe, was a bit more conservative, but the IHM took a big hit after Vatican II. Mother Mary Claudia, IHM was a fabulous Mother Superior of the Scranton motherhouse.
Ungodly Rage by Donna Steichen is an excellent start to see the rise of feminism and fall of orders. She treats the IHM community in Los Angeles specifically.
Goddess Project, The also by Steichen.
Can't remember all the twists and turns I took, as it's been awhile.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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mathmama
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JennGM wrote:
Here's an interesting article[/URL] which I just skimmed, but the order broke into 3 divisions. The Scranton community, I believe, was a bit more conservative, but the IHM took a big hit after Vatican II. Mother Mary Claudia, IHM was a fabulous Mother Superior of the Scranton motherhouse.
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I just want to say, as a Scrantonian, that I am shocked that the Scranton community would be considered a more "conservative" branch. If this is in fact true, then the other 2 branches must be pretty far gone Right now we have a local IHM who wrote a letter to the editor saying that the moral evils of abortion and racism have equal weight when choosing who to vote for in an election And although I was sad after reading her letter, I was not surprised.
Beth
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JennGM
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mathmama wrote:
JennGM wrote:
Here's an interesting article[/URL] which I just skimmed, but the order broke into 3 divisions. The Scranton community, I believe, was a bit more conservative, but the IHM took a big hit after Vatican II. Mother Mary Claudia, IHM was a fabulous Mother Superior of the Scranton motherhouse.
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I just want to say, as a Scrantonian, that I am shocked that the Scranton community would be considered a more "conservative" branch. If this is in fact true, then the other 2 branches must be pretty far gone Right now we have a local IHM who wrote a letter to the editor saying that the moral evils of abortion and racism have equal weight when choosing who to vote for in an election And although I was sad after reading her letter, I was not surprised.
Beth |
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Well, don't quote me, I've been wrong many times, especially this week! That is so sad. I thought because Mother Mary Claudia was so solid that it was the better, but I'm obviously wrong. Must be like the Jesuits, to find a good one it's only on an individual basis.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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JennGM
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Oh, and further reading on the state of the Monroe order: Feminists Blueprint a New Religion: A Formula for Destruction by Frank Morriss.
To go back to your original question, Lisa, I can see your dilemma. The positive side is they are still part of the Church, they haven't cut off the ties. (Of course, some of us might wish they would.  ) Donna's suggestion is good -- how much do they get for profit to sustain themselves, or are the funds used to sustain the program?
Now this page at NCRLC describes the program in detail. "About 20% of the produce is consumed at the Motherhouse, 70% to the community support agriculture (CSA) program, and the remainder to health food stores and homeless shelters." That's the produce, not the monies, if there are any involved. That wouldn't give me much hesitation, but this
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| Educational activities include herbal salve-making workhsops, salsa-making parties, drumming rituals, rain dancing, garden meditations, a sustainability series, and web-of-life workshops. |
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disturbs me. Rain dancing??? Drumming rituals????
What would I do? I'd find out how many times are those sisters around. If it's constant, and they are doing workshops like the above, I'd be too angry and couldn't join. Can you visit the premises? Can you tell if this kind of agenda permeates everything?
If it doesn't turn your stomach, I would join and see how it goes. You might be giving a wonderful example and possibility of change of heart. And if there are older sisters in the community, it's a wonderful chance for those that might not like all the "new" things.
Why do we have to deal with this kind of thing? Why can't we just have simple good stewardship of the land, without making it another religion and goddess Mother Earth and man is evil? Gets me hot under the collar!
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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teachingmom
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Just to clarify for those of us in the Arlington Diocese -- Twenty years ago, I taught with IHM sisters at O'Connell High School and they didn't seem liberal overall, for modern nuns. They were mostly from the Philadelphia area. The school's religion department was orthodox and most of the older nuns seemed to be too.
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: CSA - A Moral Dilemma
