11701 Maplewood Road,
Chardon, Ohio 44024-8482

Dear Sr. Judith,

     First, if this letter should be directed to someone such as a Mother Superior as opposed to you, please forward it. Thank you!

     Last week I was at St. Vincent Charity Hospital on three consecutive days to visit a friend who had surgery. I compliment you and everyone at St. Vincent’s for managing and operating such a wonderful hospital. I particularly found the chapel to be beautiful and very ‘Catholic’ at a time in history when churches and chapels around the country are being built or renovated to look like lecture halls or meeting rooms.

     Over these days I had the pleasure of seeing and speaking with some of the religious sisters who work at the hospital. I noticed that one was dressed in a lay person’s woman’s dress and another was dressed in some type of shorts or maybe they are called culottes. We never saw anyone wearing a religious habit of any type. Within my knowledge of church law, is it not correct that all religious are to wear the clothing commonly called the religious habit so that you are distinctly set apart from the laity and world?

     “Habit, Religious: The distinctive garb worn by members of religious institutes and societies of apostolic life. The purpose of the habit is twofold. It is a sign of the religious life and a testimony to poverty. The law requires that members of religious institutes wear a distinctive religious habit.”¹ “#1. Religious are to wear the habit of the institute made according to the norm of proper law as a sign of their consecration and as a testimony of poverty.”² “#17. The religious habit, an outward mark of consecration to God, should be simple and modest, poor and at the same becoming. In addition it must meet the requirements of health and be suited to the circumstances of time and place and to the needs of the ministry involved. The habits of both men and women religious which do not conform to these norms must be changed."³ “The Church is considered the family of God, and rules exist to protect that family as a whole as well as individual members. Specifically, Catholics are obligated to follow all the divine laws of God, the natural moral law, Church law, etc. In short, a Catholic is expected to be a law-abiding citizen. This viewpoint is reinforced by what Christ said: ‘Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s’ (Mk. 12:17).”⁴

     Sister, I do quite a bit of studying about our Catholic faith. As legal changes come down from Rome, our local bishop, etc., not much escapes my notice. I am not aware of any document or legal ecclesiastical order that permits you or the other sisters at St. Vincent’s to refrain from wearing the required religious habit. With all love, prayers and do respect, the cause of you all not wearing habits seems to be simply your choice to disobey authority! I am most eager to see your response to this letter.

     If you and the sisters in your order who are assigned to St. Vincent Charity Hospital agree to go back to wearing religious habits approved by the Church, I will assist you. I will take it upon myself to head up a fund raising effort to purchase the number of habits needed for your needs. I thank you and all of the other sisters for saying yes to your vocational calling. You are in my prayers.

     Sincerely in Christ,

     Ronald Smith