“An even greater challenge (than giving attention to the so-called ‘masculine branches of learning’) was the lifestyle of the very nuns who supposedly were its exemplars. They resided in a self-governing community of women and were confident, independent and authority figures to many. Consequently they were compelled to protect their way of life from clerical interference…
“Resenting challenges to episcopal authority, especially from laywomen and women religious, bishops tried to obtain unquestioned obedience form nuns. Sometimes they established their own religious orders with special vows of obedience. They also forced communities to separate from their motherhouses, intervened in elections, diverted funds, and even drove recalcitrants from their diocese. Occasionally convents were placed under interdict, supervisors excommunicated or deposed, and sacraments denied. The hierarchy generally shared the belief of Bishop Celestine de la Hailandière that to oppose a bishop was to revel against God and that the least priest in a diocese had more power over sisters than their superior general.”
from The Encyclopedia of American Catholic History
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