In a stunning exposé of faith and feminism, the Toronto International Film Festival unveils Nuns vs The Vatican, a documentary that chronicles the remarkable rebellion of American nuns against the highest Catholic authorities.
The Vatican's Unprecedented Crackdown
The film meticulously documents the Vatican's 2012 investigation into the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, representing approximately 80% of American nuns. Church authorities accused these women of promoting "radical feminist themes" and spending too much time on social justice work rather than opposing abortion and same-sex marriage.
Director David France, known for his Oscar-nominated How to Survive a Plague, captures the nuns' courageous decision to fight back rather than submit to what they viewed as patriarchal overreach.
A Battle for the Soul of Modern Catholicism
The documentary reveals how these women, many in their 70s and 80s, organized resistance efforts while maintaining their spiritual commitments. Through intimate interviews and archival footage, France shows nuns who had dedicated their lives to service suddenly branded as dissidents.
The film particularly highlights their work with marginalised communities – AIDS patients, the homeless, and immigrants – which Vatican officials apparently viewed as secondary to doctrinal purity campaigns.
A Triumph of Spirit Over Doctrine
While acknowledging the complexity of religious authority, the documentary ultimately presents the nuns' stance as a victory for progressive values within tradition-bound institutions. Their eventual reconciliation with the Church comes across as hard-won and on their own terms.
The review notes France's balanced approach, allowing viewers to understand both the Vatican's concerns about doctrinal consistency and the nuns' perspective on their vocation's true meaning.
This timely documentary arrives as conversations about women's roles in religious institutions continue worldwide, making Nuns vs The Vatican not just a historical document but a relevant commentary on power, gender, and faith in modern society.
