SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
Differences between the Vatican and a group of Nuns in the United States have some in Sioux City gathering for a special night of prayer.
The concern, a report from the Vatican that criticizes the largest group of U.S. Catholic nuns, known as the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
About 80 percent of the nuns in the U.S. are members.
It's accused of promoting social justice views that may be considered contradictory to the Catholic faith, involving the priesthood, marriage, homosexuality, and even abortion.
Wednesday night's event was about praying for open communication with the Vatican.
"People criticize your thinking and you have to defend what you are believing if you live in a culture of dialogue. And I think that's the kind of culture we've created and maybe that's a little threatening to people who are not used to it," said Sister Grace Ann Witte.
Sister Grace Ann Witte says this has been an ongoing issue since 2008.
When asked about the conflict between the Vatican and the nuns, Bishop Nickless of the Sioux City Diocese said the Vatican is not trying to diminish any of their good works.
"We're so conscious in our country of equality and we want everyone to feel equal and yet, we're not all the same. God made male and female and there's differences. We can't be unisex. We can't. We just can't do that. We accept reality as it is," said R. Walker Nickless, the Sioux City Diocese Bishop.
Witte said the two sides are currently meeting at the Vatican to discuss their differences and figure out how to move forward.
