The second African woman who spoke with NCR concurred with Laura about the situation in their country, but was unwilling to talk about her own experience. She is still a member of the religious order that Laura has left. I have your name right here. She pulled a piece of notebook paper from the pocket of her jumper. Laura believes the solution to the problem of vulnerable nuns is to make the women's religious orders in Africa self-supporting like those in most of Europe and in the United States.
Bishops are often part of the problem.
The diocesan congregations are the bishops' property. The one who controls your finances can control you in every way. The priests see sexual favors as quid pro quo. The nuns are very vulnerable. In other countries, too, even here, in the United States, Laura said she and other African nuns have been propositioned by African priests.