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Pray the News
Indiana Nuns Post Their View of World Events on the Web
 Listen to Susan Stamberg's report.
 Read excerpts of opinions from Pray the News.
April 4, 2002 -- Their commentaries have taken on the Middle East, the Sept. 11 attacks, Enron, anthrax, racial profiling, global warming and the Andrea Yates trial. But they're not guests on Sunday morning TV talk shows or newspaper editorial writers. They are the Carmelite nuns of Indianapolis, whose opinions appear on a Web site they call Pray the News.
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The first wing of the Carmelites of Indianapolis monastery was completed in 1932 and five sisters moved in.
Photo: Carmelites of Indianapolis
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"We try to take what's most in the news at the time," Sister Terese tells Morning Edition guest host Susan Stamberg.
The Carmelite Monastery in Indianapolis has 13 members, most over age 70. Traditionally they're a secluded order, but a few years ago they decided they needed a little more visibility if the order were to continue. They organized praythenews.com, a Web site where they weigh in on news of the day and offer prayers for world events.
As they explain on the site: "By continuously making ourselves aware of the present moment of the universe, we awaken ourselves to our presence to God -- and in our own way, participate in the healing, loving and creative energy this process can spark."
The sisters read about 70 papers and periodicals weekly -- from Fortune to the Economist -- and each contributes short thoughts about the week's events. The most recent commentaries on the Web site provide surprisingly blunt reflections on pedophilia involving Catholic priests.
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Sister Ruth.
Photo: David Pavese, Pavese Imaging Inc.
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Sister Ruth writes: "In this very tragic situation, there have been countless victims and so much heartache and disillusionment with the Church. A lot of injustice has been done and people are angry... What do you say to those innocent trusting souls that were so wounded by the sickness of others, by a Church that at times seemed to be more interested in its image rather than justice for the victims?... I pray for all... for the victims to receive God's peace in their lives, for the perpetrators to receive God's healing and truth, for the disillusioned to receive God's comfort and strength and for the Church, that it truly be a means of God's compassion to all."
Sister Ruth tells Stamberg that the subject was particularly difficult for her to write about because "it involves someone -- and in this case it was the church -- that is very, very dear to me. It's like if a member of your own family were involved in a scandal... your approach to it is a lot more emotional than if it would be... a stranger." But, Sister Ruth adds, the good news is "the church is finally starting to deal with this issue."
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Sister Terese.
Photo: David Pavese, Pavese Imaging Inc.
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Stamberg also interviews Sister Terese, another member of the monastery. Sister Terese says she was troubled by the church's attempts to hide the incidents and not report them to civil authorities. "So, it's the cover-up... It didn't work for Clinton, it didn't work for Enron or Arthur Andersen and it can't work for the church either. We're not a privileged class. We are the people of God, we're fallible and at times it's embarrassing. We just have to be humble enough and say, 'Sorry, we were guilty.'"
Excerpts of Pray the News Opinions
The Middle East Conflict (Dec. 14, 2001)
Sister Betty's Perspective: "It is no secret that the Israel/Palestine issue is not merely a difficulty between two small governments... It can lead to a world war or to an as yet undreamed of unification of the human species. We have to believe that the latter can happen! We have to believe that unity can come out of all of this diversity. In any case, it will be what we make of it."
The Andrea Yates Trial (Jan. 18, 2002)
Sister Ruth's Perspective: "I'm not for the death penalty in any case but this would be an especially terrible verdict in this case. Yes, her children were victims, but so was she. She will have to live with this for the rest of her life. She needs a lot of prayer and compassion."
The Collapse of Enron (Jan. 25, 2002)
Sister Terese's Perspective: "We impeached a president for sexual peccadillos that caused embarrassment and humiliation to a few. What is the penalty for those who have brought ruin to thousands while retaining their own fortunes? Sex makes headlines and creates media frenzy, but white collar crime which is more insidious and hurts more people rides out the original furor and then is forgotten. My prayer is that the crimes of Enron and Arthur Andersen Company will spotlight the injustices of large corporations that profit by graft and cunning, and that finally there will be true campaign finance reform."
Third World Debt Relief (Aug. 3, 2001)
Sister Joanne's Perspective: "As I pray and reflect on the problem I cannot envision any of these poor countries being able to get out of poverty without a great deal of financial help. It would seem if the wealthier countries could reduce their debt or cancel it the country would have a fresh start and be able to spend that money for human development purposes."
Other Resources
• Pray the News.
• The Carmelites of Indianapolis offer perspectives on the latest news and previous topics.
• Carmelites of Indianapolis timeline.
• Information on visiting the monastery.
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