"Some liberal Catholic clergy are completely skeptical about teh scope and meaning of the traditionalist turn. 'It's more hype than reality,' says the Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and political scientists at Georgetown's Woodstock Theological Center...he is equally dubious about all the attention being devoted to the habit-wearing Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia and a few other traditional religious orders that have enjoyed an uptick in younger members. 'I have no problem with their habits,' says Reese. 'On the other hand, if the church ordained women, we'd have thousands more women coming forward.'"

I'm always amused by these people who say "if only the church ordained women...we'd have thousands." Or, "if only the church allowed priest to marry - we'd have thousands!"

In reality, the Episcopal church and CofE, who allow both of these things, are still having trouble filling their need, as are Orthodox (who may marry) and even Rabbinical seminaries. In the case of the first - the Episcopals and Anglicans - they're watching their churches die...but at least they're "with the times..."

"Hype." Some liberal Catholic clergy are completely skeptical about the scope and meaning of the traditionalist turn. "It's more hype than reality," says the Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and political scientist at Georgetown's Woodstock Theological Center. Reese thinks the church should focus less on the Latin mass than on the three things that draw most churchgoers: "good preaching, good music, and a welcoming community." He is equally dubious about all the attention being devoted to the habit-wearing Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia and a few other traditional religious orders that have enjoyed an uptick in younger members. "I have no problem with their habits," says Reese. "On the other hand, if the church ordained women, we'd have thousands more women coming forward."

But Sister Patricia Wittberg, a sociologist at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, sees more substance in the new traditionalism. "I think churches that can articulate what they do and what they stand for tend to grow better." To that extent, she says, the conservative turn in the church makes sense. But she points out that there are two kinds of conservatives. "One group," she says, "would like to take things back to the [16th-century Counter-Reformation] Council of Trent, but I don't think the future's with them. I think the future is with a group that is interested in reviving the old stuff and traditions in a creative way. Sisters in traditional orders may wear habits, but they often live in coed communities." Sociologist Finke agrees: "Members of traditional religious orders want to be set apart, to have a more active spiritual formation and a strong community life. But while they are obedient, they are less submissive to authority and want to make more of their own decisions and be active professionally in outreach activities. It's a structured life, but it's a structure they are seeking and not simply submitting to authority."

It didn't show the italics, sorry. My question was based on this quote: "Sisters in traditional orders may wear habits, but they often live in coed communities."

Do you know of any such sisters? The only one's I can think of are the intercessors of the Lamb. But this article makes it seem as if they are cohabitating...

Oh, and there definitely is a mixed Benedictine monastery somewhere in France, their superior is Dutch. Puella Paschalis has a book in which she's interviewed, so you'll have to poke her, I think

As someone who had a great aunt and a second cousin as life long nuns ,believe me,nuns dont live in co-ed communities.
While there maybe a few double monasteries around,even in St.Gilbert's time men and women were housed seperately. On line they have the story of the Nun of Watton Priory,whose ghost supposedly haunts the place.
As a young girl she was placed in the Gilbertine convent. Somehow she and one of the monks fell in love
and got invovled so to speak.Somehow the nuns found out and lured the monk into a trap and attacked him in front of her,the nuns having chained her up. It was quite a scandal at the time in England.
There would be too much temptation for men and women to be housed together in a co-ed situation.
So the writer,this doctor doesn't have her facts straight.

... are still having trouble filling their need, as are Orthodox (who may marry) and even Rabbinical seminaries.

It didn't show the italics, sorry. My question was based on this quote: "Sisters in traditional orders may wear habits, but they often live in coed communities."

Do you know of any such sisters? The only one's I can think of are the intercessors of the Lamb. But this article makes it seem as if they are cohabitating...