October 10, 1989

Your Eminence,

I write with regard to a recent New York Times article concerning a conference on homosexual religious and clergy. The article makes it clear that Sister Jeannine Gramick has participated in the conference. While her comment, as reported by the New York Times, is not in and of itself objectionable, her participation in this seminar is objectionable. Sister Jeannine, with the compliance of her superiors continues to participate in seminars and workshops on homosexuality in spite of a clear directive which she received from Archbishop Laghi.

I respectfully urge that pressure be brought to bear on Sister Jeannine’s superiors to ensure that she cease this work in view of her ambiguity with regard to the wrongness of homosexual activity. I regard her defiance of Archbishop Laghi’s directive as a scandal and her teaching as harmful to the faithful.

As you know, I have written the Congregation many times concerning this matter. At the risk of taxing your patience, I urge that the Congregation do everything possible to bring this case to a swift and final closure.

With the assurance of my prayers and with kind personal regards, I am

Sincerely in Christ,

James Cardinal Hickey

Archbishop of Washington

His Eminence

Jerome Cardinal Hamer

Cardinal Prefect

Congregation for the Institutes

of Consecrated Life and

Apostolic Societies

3 Piazza Pio, XII

Rome, Italy

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