I am sure Caroline Flack thinks it was kind of clever to declare herself a nun after rumors about her relationship habits. Flack, the TV cohost of “reality companion show” The Xtra Factor (another Simon Cowell production), reportedly tweeted, “Decided I won’t make eye contact with a male human being again. Going to become a nun.”
But you know, Caroline, many have tried to pull the nun card when they were in similar situations. Think Sinead who got married shortly after making her nun declaration. Think Emma Pooley (one of your country women) who declared her cycling fail to riding “like a nun in a habit.” In fact there was even a Facebook group dedicated to people declaring their nunhood after a bad relationship, too many relationships, or no relationships at all! Dear Natalie Portman and Heather Graham have also wrangled with nun-related issues.
Sure it’s a fun publicity stunt to draw attention, but in the meantime, you manage to reinforce a rather disrespectful stereotype of Catholic sisters and nuns. It sounds something like this:
- “My boyfriend/girlfriend left me so I’m going to become a nun.”
- “Since I can’t get a man then I guess I’ll become a nun.”
- “If I’m not in a relationship (or several) then I must be a nun.”
Basically being a nun is equated with not having a romantic relationship or not having sex. Never mind those pesky distractions like prayer, mission, ministry, and community. Consecrated celibacy, which is what we Catholic sisters and nuns profess, fits into a whole life commitment that is dedicated to God, and it is an adventure the likes of which would amaze you!
I encourage you, Caroline, to understand what a nun’s life is really like before you make comments such as this one. Perhaps then when you declare yourself a nun, it will be because you have reached beyond yourself to help another person, or because you have immersed yourself in loving kindness, or because you have noticed the great beauty in your life and in the world around you.
Archived Comments
- March 6, 2012 at 10:18 am
-
I have been guilty of this as well. Except…I actually did want to be a nun in my late teens. I was called to an earthly family instead; husband, children. But knowing (intimately) what being a nun is about I don’t make the comment lightly. I believe women (famous and un-famous) make this comment because the community looks warm and welcoming, no men or sex to distract from the work of life, and to live in the company of other women pursuing a common purpose may very well be genetic with women. I only hope that when they make the comment they understand the deep and eternal connection to Christ these brave women make.
- March 6, 2012 at 10:24 am
-
Wow. To think these women look at a Nun’s life as a consolation really irks me as well. Most of them time I don’t even feel worthy to be in chat with all those wonderful people… really. I hope there are enough tags on here that she may read your post. I look at life much in the opposite way. When I was young all I ever wanted to be was a Nun. I messed that up somewhere along the way and had to settle for marriage. (I know, he’s a great guy, but you get my point).
- March 6, 2012 at 12:33 pm
-
The comments on “guess I’ll be a nun” focuses on what these females think they are lacking in not having a life (sexually? as seems to be the point) I wonder if deep inside themselves they know that nuns have it all because there is a place in the hearts of every person to satisfy that hunger for and from the love of God. Seems that in the subconscious these women desire the fulfillment that only God’s love can give to them. Do they realize what they are desiring?
