Well, it only took them six months, but the New York Times has run a front-page story on the investigation of U.S. women religious. Good for them--but remember, you heard it first in U.S. Catholic! (You can read my column, "Above and beyond the call," here, as well as my previous post on this topic.)

The Times misses some of the juicier bits, especially how the Conference of Major Superiors of Women is using the investigation to bring down the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in this mess (got another post on that here). But it does point out that apostolic visitations are almost exclusively called when there's been a big problem, such as the investigation of U.S. seminaries in light of the sex abuse crisis or the current inquiry into the Legionaries of Christ.

I've enjoyed the hopeful suggestions of some of those who've commented on my column, however, including this one: "Maybe the Vatican Overseers WILL recommend the ordination of women once they meet the wonderful women religious in the United States!" Now that's putting a happy face on it!