‘Offensive’ Choice

To the Editor:

The first purpose of this e-mail is to thank you for printing the obituary of our Sister Mary Teresa McCaffrey in the most recent issue of CNY (Feb. 5).

But, in addition, I must express on behalf of my entire community our dismay at your evident policy of not including the last names of women religious in obituary announcements and in other material. This is such an anachronistic choice on your part. To include the full names of religious is to dignify them and give them proper acknowledgement as equal members of society and the Church. The newspaper’s failure to do this is particularly offensive and unfortunate in a time when the Church is asserting the value of the contributions of women religious and the full dignity of all women. I do note that on the same page as the obituary in question appears a death notice for a lay woman. In that piece the last name is used. Sisters, nuns and brothers too deserve the same.

Sister Hildegard Pleva, O.Ss.R.

Secretary

Redemptoristine Nuns

Beacon

Editor’s Note: For many years, Catholic New York has referred to women religious by their first names in headlines and in second and subsequent references in stories. The policy was instituted after a vote of the women and men religious in the archdiocese some years ago. Since the matter was decided by the religious themselves, it should be revisited by them to see if a change is in order. We will raise the issue with the appropriate authorities in a timely manner.