Witness to Integrity: The Crisis of the Immaculate Heart Community of California

by Anita M. Caspary IHM

Witness to Integrity is a first-person account of the historic dispute between the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters (IHM) and James Francis McIntyre, the Cardinal Archbishop of Los Angeles. Former Mother General of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters and president of the Immaculate Heart Community, Anita Caspary, IHM, tells her story of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters' motivations and struggles in their claim for authority and freedom to live a Christian life in accordance with their consciences. The conflicts that lead a part of the Immaculate Heart Sisters' Community to become an ecumenical community are described with vividness. Anita Caspary's personal narrative reflections provide in-depth details of the story that has captured media attention in books, television documentaries, and plays. In addition, the use of original sources from the Immaculate Heart Community archives that have not been open to the public assists in producing new insights and correcting inaccuracies and myths. Chapters are "The Accusation," “Memories of a Catholic Girlhood,” “Background and Beginnings,” “Called to be a Nun,” “Teacher, Professor, and Administrator,” “The Sixties and the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart,” “Cardinal James F. McIntyre,” “The Archdiocesan Visitations,” “The 1967 Chapter of Creating the Vision,” “Embracing the Vision,” “The Cardinal’s Response to Renewal,” “The Vatican Visitations,” “A Test Case for the Vatican,” “A New Life for Religious Women,” and “The Immaculate Heart Community.” Anita M. Caspary, IHM, PhD, was president of the Immaculate Heart College from 1957 to 1963. She was Mother General of the Immaculate Heart Sisters from 1963 to 1969 and president of the Immaculate Heart Community from 1970 to 1973. She is the author of several articles about the challenge of the Roman Catholic hierarchy by the Immaculate Heart Sisters and has taught in the graduate level for the last three decades. Currently, she writes and teaches poetry at the Immaculate Heart Community in Los Angeles, California. "

312 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

Reviews

[K Kriesel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who wants to learn about the 2015 Vatican investigation in the LCWR should start here. Caspary does an excellent job articulating the history, mission, and qualities of the IHMs in California as well as everything they faced on their way to independence. I better understand the tense relationship between the Church hierarchy and American women religious now.

I always enjoy a nonfiction book that gives me more things to research, and I found a few rabbit holes in this book! I was also very happy to see the School Sisters of St Francis, the women religious who run my alma mater Averno College, mentioned a couple times as vocal supporters of the IHMs. The first conference of women theologians at Averno, just 3 years after the IHMs created their decree, also makes so much more sense now that I've read this book.

I did not give this 5 stars because it does drag on at some points. The IHMs had been a teaching order, and Caspary delves into data about teaching that seems only tangential to the history.

[Linda Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember well the time after the Second Vatican Council when communities of religious women began experimenting. Being in a religious community myself, I was aware of the crisis of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart in the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

Forty years later, as I read Witness to Integrity,I was struck in a much fuller way by this poignant story. I hung on to every word as I read how Anita Caspary led her sisters through this difficult time, and how they responded to this deep and challenging Call to Integrity.

Through her detailed account, I clearly see that Anita Caspary's leadership was born of an inner obedience to God, her sisters, and the directives of Vatican II. In the face of hierarchical power gone awry, Anita's soul and spirit expanded in extraordinary courage, strength, compassion and equanimity. She is a modern day example for all of us who seek to live our lives in Truth and Integrity.

[Alexandra Michaelides · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very compelling story, yet the book itself would have benefited from a better editor. It is wonderful to have a first-hand account of the turmoil surrounding the explosion of the Immaculate Heart Community, but too often the text is bogged down with details; a play by play rather than a thoughtful summary and analysis. If you are searching for a personal account of the massive changes in the Catholic church during the 60s, this may be for you. But if you are more interested in a theoretical work or a look at a much broader scope regarding sexism, Catholicism, or post-WWI America, search elsewhere.