Two sisters reflected for America on the experiences of faith and grace they have found in the midst of a profoundly challenging time for their community.

The disclosure by the Spanish Jesuits comes as Pope Francis, the church’s first Jesuit pope, has tried to sensitize the church around the globe to the problem of clergy abuse.

“There’s more to being pro-life than abortion and assisted suicide,” said organizer Kathleen Domingo. “We want to keep our families safe. We didn’t think it was worth the risk. Life is precious.”

Saint Ignatius was opposed to women Jesuits for reasons that were cultural, practical and canonical, but other Jesuits were not. The question was a hot topic in the early Society.

None of the saints associated with the United States are of African descent. The Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University intends to change that, and here are six possibilities for sainthood.