Marjorie Tuite
Encyclopedia
Sister Marjorie Tuite, O.P., (1922—1986) was a New York City-born and reared Dominican Sister, a progressive activist on issues related to the Church and the larger world, such as poverty, war and the ordination of women. One of her lectures on economic justice was canceled by San Diego Bishop
Leo Maher
after the Vatican responded with a threat of expulsion.
In late November 1975, Tuite was among the key organizers of the first International Women's Ordination Conference
(WOC).
Tuite was also one of the "Vatican 24", Religious Sisters who had signed the Catholic Statement on Pluralism and Abortion published in the New York Times on October 7, 1984. The Catholic Magisterium
, via the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
, reacted by threatening the Sisters with dismissal from their respective religious congregations if they didn't retract their statements in order to fall in line with Church doctrine
. Tuite appeared on The Phil Donahue Show
on January 28, 1985 (along with fellow signers Patricia Hussey and Barbara Ferraro) to defend their position. Subsequently, Tuite became terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, and the Dominican Sisters retracted her statement (without her knowledge) on her behalf. She died on June 28, 1986.
On July 3 at Tuite's Mass of Christian Burial, Father Sam Matarazzo, O.P.
, a priest at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer
, Tuite's childhood parish church, instructed the mixed crowd that only Catholics should come forward for Holy Communion. Maureen Fiedler
, a Sister of Loretto, countered him by telling attendees that all would be welcome at Communion, including non-Catholics. During consecration, the priest was surrounded by women, including Ruth McDonough Fitzpatrick of the WOC. Fitzpatrick recalled that the priest elbowed the women "to give him his sacred space" but that they did not yield. Instead, the women extended their hands over the Eucharist and said the words of consecration "so loudly that you could hear it in this huge New York church." Men and women from the peace movement and those working for human rights stood up spontaneously and shared memories of Tuite. Many non-Catholics went forward to receive communion including Protestant minister and peace activist William Sloane Coffin
. Fitzpatrick said that "Women-Church came into its own at Margie's funeral in the way that Margie wanted."
Tuite's ashes were taken to Nicaragua
and, after journeying through some of the villages where she had worked with local women, they were finally interred in a barrio of Managua
.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Leo Maher
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the western region of the United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of San Diego and Imperial Counties in Southern California, with a Catholic population of 1,981,057...
after the Vatican responded with a threat of expulsion.
In late November 1975, Tuite was among the key organizers of the first International Women's Ordination Conference
Women's Ordination Conference
The Women's Ordination Conference is the oldest and largest national organization that works to ordain women as deacons, priests, and bishops into the Roman Catholic Church. Founded in 1975, it primarily promotes an agenda with the objective of ordaining women within the Catholic Church. The idea...
(WOC).
Tuite was also one of the "Vatican 24", Religious Sisters who had signed the Catholic Statement on Pluralism and Abortion published in the New York Times on October 7, 1984. The Catholic Magisterium
Magisterium
In the Catholic Church the Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Church. This authority is understood to be embodied in the episcopacy, which is the aggregation of the current bishops of the Church in union with the Pope, led by the Bishop of Rome , who has authority over the bishops,...
, via the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for everything which concerns institutes of consecrated life and Society of Apostolic Life regarding their government, discipline, studies, goods, rights, and...
, reacted by threatening the Sisters with dismissal from their respective religious congregations if they didn't retract their statements in order to fall in line with Church doctrine
Doctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
. Tuite appeared on The Phil Donahue Show
The Phil Donahue Show
The Phil Donahue Show, also known as Donahue, is an American television talk show that ran for 26 years on national television. Its run was preceded by three years of local broadcast in Dayton, Ohio, and it was broadcast nationwide between 1967 and 1996.In 2002, Donahue was ranked #29 on TV Guide's...
on January 28, 1985 (along with fellow signers Patricia Hussey and Barbara Ferraro) to defend their position. Subsequently, Tuite became terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, and the Dominican Sisters retracted her statement (without her knowledge) on her behalf. She died on June 28, 1986.
On July 3 at Tuite's Mass of Christian Burial, Father Sam Matarazzo, O.P.
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, a priest at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer
Church of St. Vincent Ferrer (New York)
The Church of St. Vincent Ferrer is a Roman Catholic parish in Manhattan, New York City. The 1918 church building, at the corner of Lexington Avenue and East 66th Street on the Upper East Side, has been called "one of New York's greatest architectural adornments"...
, Tuite's childhood parish church, instructed the mixed crowd that only Catholics should come forward for Holy Communion. Maureen Fiedler
Maureen Fiedler
Sister Maureen Fiedler, S.L., Ph.D. is an American activist and radio host and a member of the Sisters of Loretto. She is a progressive, sometimes controversial activist within the Roman Catholic Church...
, a Sister of Loretto, countered him by telling attendees that all would be welcome at Communion, including non-Catholics. During consecration, the priest was surrounded by women, including Ruth McDonough Fitzpatrick of the WOC. Fitzpatrick recalled that the priest elbowed the women "to give him his sacred space" but that they did not yield. Instead, the women extended their hands over the Eucharist and said the words of consecration "so loudly that you could hear it in this huge New York church." Men and women from the peace movement and those working for human rights stood up spontaneously and shared memories of Tuite. Many non-Catholics went forward to receive communion including Protestant minister and peace activist William Sloane Coffin
William Sloane Coffin
William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was an American liberal Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. He was ordained in the Presbyterian church and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ....
. Fitzpatrick said that "Women-Church came into its own at Margie's funeral in the way that Margie wanted."
Tuite's ashes were taken to Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
and, after journeying through some of the villages where she had worked with local women, they were finally interred in a barrio of Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
.
Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 1978 | Catholic Committee Urban Ministry Award for commitment of social justice |
| 1979 | US Catholic Magazine Award for work with women in the church |
| 1985 | Boise Idaho Peace Quilt |
| 1985 | Mary Rhodes Award |