In April, the Vatican accused your group, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the country’s most influential nuns’ organization, of “radical feminism.” Did that surprise you?

I was surprised by us being called radical feminists. I could introduce them to some real radical feminists.

Part of the criticism was that the sisters weren’t speaking against issues like abortion, contraception and gay marriage.

But if you look at the Gospel, Jesus welcomed sinners with the idea that they would be drawn to change their lives. Human beings are frail. None of us always act the way we wish we would act.

Cardinal Levada, who oversaw the assessment of the L.C.W.R., has been questioned for his handling of sex-abuse cases.

I’m not going there.

Do you have feelings about the sex-abuse scandal?

I don’t want to go there. I’ll tell you personally, I’m appalled, but so is everyone else. We’re all appalled.