LCWR: If 'forced to compromise,' we will reconsider discussion

Update: The full story has just been posted: LCWR will continue dialogue, but not compromise mission

At the end of its annual assembly Friday in St. Louis, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious said it will proceed with discussion with the Vatican "for as long as possible" but will reconsider if the sisters are "forced to compromise the integrity of [their] mission."

About 900 representatives of the Catholic sisters have been in St. Louis since Tuesday for the assembly, considering the future of the organization after a Vatican rebuke in April that calls for LCWR to reform and place itself under the authority of three U.S. bishops.

NCR staff writer Joshua J. McElwee is covering the event, and we'll have a full story on the announcement, which was made at 2:45 p.m. Central time, a little later in the day.

More on the LCWR assembly:

• LCWR president to sisters: Be 'fearless' on Vatican mandate, Aug. 10
• Sisters contemplate surrender, discernment, authority, Aug. 10
• Sister, NCR contributors discuss religious life with LCWR, Aug. 10
• Keynote: LCWR 'seed bed' for 21st century, Aug. 8
• LCWR 'gathers collective wisdom' of members to discern next steps, Aug. 8
• LCWR past presidents reflect on Vatican mandate, Aug. 7
• LCWR to determine course at next week's annual meeting, July 31

For related commentary see:

• The Vatican, LCWR, and Definitions of Dialogue By Kevin Aschenbrenner
• What LCWR teaches us about church leadership By Jamie L. Manson
• Are these sisters dangerous women? By Patrick T. Reardon
• The Second Vatican Council has already made us free By Robert Blair Kaiser