Theresa Kane - The Nun Who Confronted the Pope

This fascinating biography was just released…

To Speak the Truth in Love:
A Biography of
Theresa Kane, RSM
Christine Schenk, CSJ

Paperback: Orbis Books, 2019
Buy Now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ]

Book Description:

In 1979 Sister Theresa Kane, then-president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, was invited to offer a greeting to Pope John Paul II during his visit to the United States. She used the opportunity to ask the pope to open all the ministries of the Church to women. This riveting biography opens with that famous scene, a galvanizing moment that provoked ardent support as well as bitter criticism. During her seven years as president of the Sisters of Mercy of the Union, she fought tirelessly for women’s equality. Because she would not desist from speaking her sisters’ truth, the Vatican tried to remove her from office. Kane persisted with a deep and persevering faith.

Through her story, this book documents an important period of contemporary Catholic history when Theresa Kane and so many other sisters exercised unparalleled leadership in the Catholic Church by speaking truth to power — with love, wisdom, and grace.

Watch this superb video clip about the encounter that Sr. Theresa Kane had with the Pope …

C. Christopher Smith

C. Christopher Smith is the founding editor of The Englewood Review of Books. He is also author of a number of books, including most recently How the Body of Christ Talks: Recovering the Practice of Conversation in the Church (Brazos Press, 2019). Connect with him online at: C-Christopher-Smith.com