Law and the Search for Justice

Seasoning
by Joellen McCarthy, BVM; Peggy Nolan, BVM and Mary Ann Zollmann, BVM

BVM Leadership Team (l. to r.) Mary Ann Zollmann, Joellen McCarthy and Peggy Nolan.

Dear SALT Readers,

In this issue of SALT a group of BVMs, Associates and former BVMs share their experiences of law from a variety of perspectives. We're grateful for their stories and insights, since for many of us BVMs our acquaintance with law can be summed up in traffic tickets, jury summons, durable power of attorney forms and an occasional episode of Law and Order.

Regardless of our limited encounters with the law itself, we recognize that legal structures, both civil and canonical, have been and continue to be an important part of our history.

Our founder, Mary Frances Clarke, was keenly aware of the protections the law offered her young community. In 1870, shortly after Father Terrence Donaghoe's death, Mary Frances had the community incorporated under Iowa law, thus ensuring that property and assets would remain with the group.

Next she sought canonical approbation from the church for the community's Rule. In 1877, after many setbacks, the Rule received papal recognition, thus constituting the BVMs as a pontifical religious congregation formally recognized by Rome and not subject to the control of a local bishop.

Over the years this canonical structure has helped to shape our lives as women of the church. The civil structure of incorporation as a non profit entity has granted us protection under Iowa law to conduct charitable works for the public benefit.

About 100 years after our original Rule was approved, the Vatican asked all women religious to revise their documents in the light of the Second Vatican Council. Our ensuing revised Constitutions were approved by Rome in 1989 and have served since then “to focus both our daily lives and the ideals toward which we strive.” (Article 1)

Both in the mundane activities of every day life and in the challenging issues of our day, our BVM approach to law is grounded in this document. The following articles from our Constitutions give some indication where our hearts might lie when it comes to law.

As an expression of poverty, “We are called to participate in the world wide struggle of those who suffer injustice, ignorance and indignity.” (Article 45)

As an expression of celibacy we believe that “We witness to authentic Christian love by our willingness to serve even at great personal cost those who need our affection and concern.” (Article 36)

As an expression of obedience we understand that “The will of God is manifested to us…in the signs of the times and the needs of God's people.” (Article 54)

In the exercise of ministry we believe that “As women of the church we are called to give strong public witness against oppression brought about by unjust political and social structures locally, nationally and internationally.” (Article 17)

By allowing these statements “to focus our daily lives and the ideals toward which we strive,” our interpretation of the law seeks to honor all persons as fairly as possible with special attention to those who are the least powerful among us.

This attitude flows naturally from our grounding in the Judeo-Christian tradition which affirms repeatedly the dignity of all persons and the responsibility of all to look after the least among us. This attitude is soundly reinforced in Jesus' parable of the Last Judgment where he reminds us that what we do to the least of our brothers and sisters we do to him. (Matt 25: 40.)

In the spirit of attending to the least among us, we offer you these SALT stories of lawyers and lobbyists, juries and judges, and successes and failures in the application of the law.

Perhaps these articles will call to mind those persons and events which have helped to shape your attitudes and actions relative to law. May you, too, enjoy connecting with that which focuses your daily life and the ideals toward which you strive.