New Age and retreat houses.

Ottawa -- Chances are your local retreat house run by religious sisters advertises its services in the parish bulletin. What it advertises may be of concern to Catholics. For years now these retreat houses have used their place in the Church and in society to promote the New Age ideology--everything from enneagrams, to therapeutic touch and drumming circle prayers. Some sisters are reiki masters; some lead discussions on how to dissent and still remain in the Church; some give lectures on creation spirituality. (See also Dr. John Shea's "The Church and New Age spirituality," C.I., Nov. 2005, pp. 33-35.)

The 2003 Vatican document on New Age entitled Jesus Christ, the Bearer of the Water of Life seems to be ignored, while New Age or Eastern-style practices are allowed or even promoted in parish bulletins, church halls, convents and from the pulpit. Perhaps a small consolation is that these "modern" convents have not been attracting novices for some years.

On a related topic, the National Coalition of American Nuns has issued guidelines promoting the acceptance of homosexuality, abortion, gay 'marriage' and the adoption of children by homosexual partners. The group is also a strong proponent of women's ordination and numerous leftist causes (LifeSiteNews, Nov. 3, 2006).