VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Two days after the head of the Vatican office overseeing religious life said he had not been consulted by the Vatican’s doctrinal office about a controversial investigation of American nuns, the two bodies affirmed their “common commitment” to reform of the U.S.-based Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR).

Brazilian Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, told an international gathering of sisters May 5 that his office had not been consulted about the doctrinal congregation’s investigation of the LCWR, and he expressed hopes for “a dialogue, something which did not take place previously.”

In newspaper reports, Cardinal Braz de Aviz was not quoted as disagreeing with the doctrinal congregation’s final assessment of the LCWR or challenging the congregation’s decision that the group’s statutes must be revised. He did, however, say the way the process was handled personally caused him pain.