Sisters Forever

I want to thank all of you who supported the Sisters of Bethany during their ordeal [“D’Sant Angelo Guilty of Stealing from Nuns,” 3/26/10].

Though I sat there biting my tongue when I would hear over and over again, “Sister Angela was a nun,” I wanted to shout, “Dumbbells! She made vows to God, not man. She will always be a nun.” Having served with them, as a former nun in their order, I can speak of these nuns’ holiness and ultimate sacrifice. As a witness from day one, I can vouch for their integrity. It was not their wish to become celebrities or seek the limelight: just ordinary members of the flock, following their god, not just with lip service but good deeds.

Others should have been called to testify. Those who knew but followed the hierarchy: Now what do you have to say? The sale of the convent never took place. Three nuns, brides of Christ, became homeless but not forgotten. Where was the mother superior who was the “protector” but hid behind the habit and the name and offered no assistance whatsoever? It took an outside order to jump in and assist the nuns and adopt them in their plight.

[My prayers also go out to this] community that received more than 50 years of service. The little and big donors who gave with all their hearts, who left the church over this incident. The priest who passed away, who knew the truth. And, to God be the glory and the judgment, the court system on down to the bailiffs for their show of kindness and respect. And of course, to the jury, who proved our system still works.—Evangelina Diaz, Carpinteria