Fighting same-sex marriage equality and abortion is more important than working to alleviate poverty and economic injustice – according to the Vatican. The New York Times reported last month that America’s largest and most influential organisation of nuns, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, has been officially reprimanded for getting these priorities in the wrong order. The organisation has also come under fire for questioning doctrine and publicly disagreeing with bishops.

Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle has now been appointed to reform the sisters’ Conference, with their statutes, program of speakers and discussion book all to be revised under his guidance.  The review into the sisters’ activities has been taking place since 2008, The Vatican also conducted an inquiry into the activities of all women’s religious orders and communities in the States however the findings of that inquiry have not been made public.