Controversial Anthology — Lives Of Lesbian Nuns (Press, 6 June 1985)
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Summary: Controversial Anthology — Lives Of Lesbian Nuns (Press, 6 June 1985)
On 6 June 1985, Rosemary Curb, a former nun and now an associate professor, discussed her controversial anthology, “Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence,” which features 51 essays by homosexual nuns. In the introduction to her book, Curb referred to her mother’s concerns about potential professional and physical repercussions of her writing. However, Curb defended her work, highlighting that it is not anti-Catholic but rather an honest portrayal of nuns as dedicated individuals who are also fully realised human beings. The book gained considerable attention when Boston's Catholic Archdiocese reacted negatively to a scheduled talk show appearance by two of its authors, leading to the cancellation of the programme. This incident generated significant publicity, resulting in the book going into a second printing by Naiad Press before its official release. Warner Books acquired the paperback rights for a substantial sum, and the book became a bestseller at national chains. Curb, now 45 years old, entered the Dominican Sisters' order at 18 but left in 1965, citing emotional repression within religious life. After marrying an English professor and later declaring herself a lesbian, she now lives with her daughter, Lisa. The book’s essays were selected from over 300 submissions by current and former nuns who had experienced homosexuality. Many contributors initially entered convent life seeking refuge from traditional heterosexual roles, while Curb noted a shared innocence among them regarding their latent homosexuality. Throughout the anthology, contributors describe feelings of loneliness and isolation experienced in convent life, suggesting that such sentiments could stem from their sexual orientation or the restrictive nature of communal living. While the book focuses on the experiences of lesbian nuns, it does not compare them directly with their heterosexual counterparts, leaving unanswered questions about the nature of their suffering and the reasons behind their departure from convent life. Finally, Curb expressed that compiling this anthology helped her integrate different phases of her life, emphasising that coming out as a lesbian or an ex-nun requires significant courage, akin to the struggles faced by many individuals living within societal or religious confines.
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