Yesterday, much was made of a rehashed statement from a left-leaning group of religious sisters in support of the health-care legislation sans Stupak before Congress. This morning, another group of religious sisters, representing some of the most vibrant, growing congregations in the U.S., have released a different kind of press release:

Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious P.O. Box 4467 · Washington, D.C. 20017-0467 Telephone: (202) 832-2575 · FAX: (202) 832-6325 · E-mail: [email protected]
March 17, 2010
In a March 15th statement, Cardinal Francis George, OMI, of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke on behalf of the United States Bishops in opposition to the Senate’s version of the health care legislation under consideration because of its expansion of abortion funding and its lack of adequate provision for conscience protection. Recent statements from groups like Network, the Catholic Health Association and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) directly oppose the Catholic Church’s position on critical issues of health care reform.
The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, the second conference of Major Superiors of Women Religious in the United States, believes the Bishops’ position is the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church.
Protection of life and freedom of conscience are central to morally responsible judgment. We join the bishops in seeking ethically sound legislation.
Mother Mary Quentin Sheridan, R.S.M.
President
On behalf of the Membership of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious

The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, by the way, represent over 100 religious congregations who live in community and wear habits. They’re known to have waiting lists of young women attracted to their traditional form of religious life.