America Magazine Franciscan Leadership Declares 'Solidarity' with LCWR

America Magazine Franciscan Leadership Declares 'Solidarity' with LCWR: A statement from the seven Franciscan (OFM) Provinces in the United States in support of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious has been released. This is the first men's religious order publicly declare their solidarity with the LCWR and also to critique the Vatican's Doctrinal Assessment. To my mind, for the Franciscans to not only stand with the sisters but to call the Vatican's approach "excessive" evidences a deep displeasure with the way that the reform of the sisters' organization is proceeding. It is fathers and brothers coming to the defense of their sisters.