Donna Quinn

Donna Quinn was a Catholic nun and a lifelong feminist activist who was known for her involvement with the National Coalition of American Nuns and association with Women-Church Convergence (W-CC).[1]

Catholic Statement on Pluralism and Abortion

In 1984 Donna Quinn was one of the Catholic nuns who signed on to the Catholic Statement on Pluralism and Abortion.[2] Maureen Fielder, Barbara Ferraro and Patricia Hussey also signed this statement.[3] The backlash against the nuns for signing this statement was swift and they received significant pressure from the Vatican.[3] In a December 1984 statement, the group pushed back against the leadership of the Catholic church saying, "We believe that this Vatican action is a cause for scandal to Catholics everywhere. It seeks to stifle freedom of speech and public discussion in the Roman Catholic Church."[4] That year Quinn appeared on The Phil Donahue Show.[5] Long after she signed the 1984 statement, Quinn continued to advocate for women's right to abortion. As late as 2009 she served as a clinic escort, helping women access their legal right to abortion care.[6]

Social justice work

In 1974 Donna Quinn was one of the founders of Chicago Catholic Women an advocacy group for women's rights within the Catholic Church.[7] She also supported women's rights to contraception and called for the pope to support a female archbishop.[8] Quinn was credited in Elle Magazine as an inspiration for young Catholic women.[9] She also belonged to a club with feminist theologian Mary Hunt called "The best and the brightest of the bad girls."[10]

Women's ordination movement

Quinn was one of the most visible Catholic sisters who supported women's ordination in the Catholic Church.[11] She often spoke out against patriarchy in the church and was unafraid to protest against the Vatican directly.[12] She wrote a book about her involvement with this movement titled, "Chicago Catholic Women: Its Role in Founding the Catholic Women's Movement."[13]

AIDS activism

She often challenged the patriarchy within the Catholic Church, including when it came to the AIDS crisis. In 1994 she was quoted as saying, "To oppose condoms is immoral and murderous."[14]

Advocacy for LGBTQ+ issues

Quinn was very public in her support for LGBTQ+ rights.[1] She was quoted as saying, "I want a church that is moral, that is just, that is all-inclusive. I want to say that this is my church."[15] According to theologian Mary Hunt, Quinn spoke out in support of the LGBTQ+ community at a time where few Catholics were willing to do so.[16]

Personal life

Donna Quinn was born in Wisconsin.[10] She graduated high school in 1955 and was a longtime resident of Chicago and a member of the Dominican order of Catholic nuns.[15][8] In addition to her work as a feminist activist, she worked a teacher, administrator and admissions director.[17] She died on July 30, 2021, at the age of 84.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Feminist nun Donna Quinn leaves a legacy of justice activism". National Catholic Reporter. 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  2. "Nuns should retract, says Bernadin". Chicago Tribune. January 11, 1985. Archived from the original on 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  3. "11 Nuns Deny Recanting Stance on Abortion". Los Angeles Times. July 26, 1986. Archived from the original on 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  4. "Vatican threat to dismiss nuns for abortion ad called 'scandal'". The Miami Herald. December 20, 1984. Archived from the original on 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  5. "13 Nov 1984, Page 78 - The Akron Beacon Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  6. "Nun reprimanded for abortion clinic escorting". National Catholic Reporter. 2009-11-06. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
  7. "13 Apr 1997, Page 532 - Chicago Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  8. Brachear, Manya (November 15, 2009). "A nun's long battle in the war over abortion : Sister Donna Quinn believes in a woman's right to choose. Now, the Vatican may weigh in about her crusade". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  9. Piazza, Jo (2014-09-02). "What a Catholic Nun Taught Me About Abortion". ELLE. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  10. "Donna Quinn, "The Best and Brightest of the Bad Girls," Dies at 84". Catholics for Choice. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  11. "Nun speaks up for women's place in the church". Southtown Star. March 27, 1997. Archived from the original on 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  12. Willey, David (November 1, 1994). "Nuns Offered a Foothold in the Vatican". Citizens' Voice.
  13. "Catholic women's history in Catholic women's hands – WATER – Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual". Retrieved 2022-05-29.
  14. "Refractory spirits". Salt Lake Tribune. January 15, 1994. Archived from the original on 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  15. "Looking to Change the Established Order". Chicago Tribune. April 13, 1997. Archived from the original on 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  16. "Feminist nun Donna Quinn leaves a legacy of justice activism". National Catholic Reporter. 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
  17. "Sister Donna Quinn OP Obituary (2021) Daily Southtown". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
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