sakrilege

What about The Magdalene Sisters?

thebeave

Yeah, I think the Magdalene Sisters got a lot of enjoyment out of being mean to children, so I believe the Magdelene Sisters support Gemma's case, crazy as it sounds.

DMB

Thank you for posting that link, sakrilege. The comments are very interesting. I saw that film in March and was bowled over by it. It is fictionalised but based on real people. There was a strong documentary on the same subject that was shown on British TV a year or two ago. The writer/director said that he had to tone down reality in the film, because the real thing was too extreme and harrowing.

openeyes

I have two first cousins, one from each side of the family, who are former nuns. Apparently the convent didn't brim with happiness for them.

Gemma Therese

Then it was not God's will.

Gemma Therese

viscousmemories

Then it was God's will.

vm

elektra

Your conclusion is unfalsifiable. There is absolutely no way of knowing whether it is or is not correct.

Trekkie With a Phaser

Wait a sec.... in your first post you stated that many nuns are happy and asked if (and implied that) this is an indication that the Christian god exists. When people pointed out that there are nuns who are not happy and who have actually left the convents you simply claimed it is not the will of your god that they should be nuns.

Pardon my ignorance, but why would you bother to ask a question with the apparent purpose of proving to atheists that your god exists and then later, after counter examples are given, claim that those were not the will of your god? I mean, you're talking to people who don't believe in your god to begin with; to later argue that any counter-arguments are the result of your god's interference is silly. Or have I misrepresented what your saying?

The Other Michael

Isn't it obvious by now that Gemma Therese is channeling the Lord Her God, and is, if not a major prophetess, possibly the New Messiah?

She wouldn't be telling us this stuff it God hadn't told her it was true, and we are no doubt putting our immoral souls at peril by not taking her every word as the Gospel it obviously is.

Repent!

Michael

8of9

And why are the convents closing and orders aging when the population (in general and, I assume, of Catholics) is increasing? I know a nun who is nearly the youngest in her ancient, well-known, and relatively active order. She is over 55.

I also know a young woman who has joined a lay congregation, which appears (to this skeptic) to be a sorority of brainwashed evangelical Catholics. The arbitrary, heirarchical authority relationships, communal living, and minutely managed schedules are probably an echo of the convent lifestyle.

In fact, I'm not sure how being a "consecrated woman" is different from joining a modern convent -- except I think their mission is more evangelical.

For this group, celibacy doesn't mean they give up marriage -- you see, they are married to the big JC Himself. They even wear wedding rings, and speak of him as a beloved spouse. Must make them feel pretty special, in a supernaturally polygamous kind of way.

And yes, the ones I have encountered seem very, very Happy™.

That tells me nothing of God's existence or the goodness of the Church.