"Scheming and Turbulent": An Analysis of Obedience and Authority in the Founding of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati

Abstract

The Sisters of Charity, founded by Elizabeth Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland, in 1809, were the first American-founded community of women religious. Their governance relied on the authority of a male superior, but also created a council elected from among the sisters that gave them the opportunity to participate in important decisions. In the late 1840s, a significant decision was made by Emmitsburg's superiors, without the knowledge of any sisters, that called for an alteration to their rule and instituted new Vincentian superiors. This article analyzes the opposition to this action by one branch of the community located in Cincinnati, with a focus on the role of Sister Margaret George. By contrasting accusations made by certain priests towards Sister Margaret with her personal writings, this article argues that the interpretation of the role of obedience in this religious community was disrupted and reinterpreted during this transition. The tension between obedience and agency demonstrates that disagreement with superiors put sisters at risk for being labeled "disobedient," but their actions might also lead to a beneficial outcome. In Cincinnati, the sisters' decision to sever their ties with Emmitsburg to form their own diocesan community in 1852 allowed them to continue their mission to protect their interests under the authority of the local archbishop.