Another "Escaped" Nun

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 14, 12 April 1923, Page 45

Another "Escaped" Nun

MAY VISIT AUSTRALIA. A Miss Helen Conroy, who is at present touring Canada under he auspices of an anti-Catholic-society, and posing as an escaped nun," may possibly visit Australia for the same purpose (says the Melbourne Tribune). For tint reason we give the following facts for the benefit of those of our readers who may find themselves questioned as to the value of her testimony with regard to conventual life If we may judge from the account of the case given by the Catholic Home, of Oklahoma, the alleged experiences of Miss 'are remarkably similar to those of Maria Monk, Edith O'Gorman, and others, who have been exposed and discredited by honest non-Catholics, and whose adventures are fully dealt with in pamphlets issued by the C.i.S. It appears that, so far from Miss Conroy having escaped from a convent, she was formally dismissed. Sister Mary Ethel, to give her name in religion, spent some time in a novitiate of the Little Sisters of. the Poor in this country and after being there found unsuitable went to India, where she entered the Convent at Mandalay of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition. She remained there for seven years, and was dismissed in 1917 "for insubordination." She was provided with secular dress and a sufficient, amount of money for Sr 8 €XpenSeS ' . the Bishop payin S her passage to The Catholic Home states that it possesses letters in her own handwriting acknowledging her fault, and thanking Bishop Foulquier for undeserved kindness in the past There the matter may rest. ' For our part we cannot see how the organisers of her campaign can substantiate the; statement that Miss Conroy is an "escaped nun," in view of the fact that she was so well provided for by the authorities, who, not content with giving her secular dress and pocket money, went so far as to pay for a. journey half-way round the world. ,-L .. . -//

.. . Nothing but sin can separate us from* God. You do not wish to sin, therefore preserve your heart in peace, 1 and have it constantly turned toward Heaven. . '