Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Cartoonist

(7,507 posts)
Sat Apr 13, 2019, 04:03 PM Apr 2019

The Tragic Life of the Singing Nun

Please read whole article to get the complete picture.

http://www.back2stonewall.com/2018/03/lgbt-history-tragic-life-jeanne-deckers-aka-singing-nun.html

... After she left the convent, her recording company required her to give up her initial professional names of “Sœur Sourire” and “The Singing Nun.” She attempted to continue her musical career under the name “Luc Dominique” and became so frustrated at what she perceived to be the Catholic’s Church failure to fully implement the reforms of the Second Vatican Council that she released a song in 1967 defending the use of contraception called “Glory be to God for the Golden Pill.” This led to an intervention by the Catholic hierarchy in Montreal, Canada, which resulted in one of her concerts being cancelled.
...

The years that followed, the Belgian government claimed that she owed $63,000 in back taxes from the royalties of her music. Deckers countered that they were given to the convent and therefore she was not liable for payment of any personal income taxes. Her former congregation refused to take any responsibility for the debt, claiming both that they no longer had any responsibility for her and that they did not have the funds, and Deckers ran into heavy financial problems. In 1982, she tried, once again as Sœur Sourire, to score a hit with a disco version of “Dominique,” but this last attempt to resume her singing career failed miserably. In addition to the other financial worries, that same year, an autism center for children started by Annie Pécher had to close its doors because of bad debts.

On 29 March 1985, Jeanne Deckers and Annie Pécher committed suicide together by an overdose of barbiturates and alcohol.

In their suicide note, Decker and Pécher cited financial difficulties and stated they had not given up their faith and wished to be buried together after a church funeral.
_

Wasn't that nice of her congregation to throw her under the bus?

I know this is old news, but it's a story that resonates. It entered my consciousness recently when I heard or read something about a controversy regarding the lyrics. After checking them out, I didn't see anything of note. Here's the song, but I have to warn you, once you hear it, it will stay with you forever.

&feature=youtu.be
22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Tragic Life of the Singing Nun (Original Post) Cartoonist Apr 2019 OP
I never knew that. PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2019 #1
That's so sad. greatauntoftriplets Apr 2019 #2
We had her LP. 3catwoman3 Apr 2019 #3
I didn't know the whole story. The Catholic church, as an institutions, too often falls short Karadeniz Apr 2019 #4
"...too often falls short..." Iggo Apr 2019 #7
Thank you!❤ I didn't want to upset our Catholics by cataloging the offenses against humanity. Karadeniz Apr 2019 #8
Dominique fought the Albigensians. guillaumeb Apr 2019 #5
"Faught the Albigensians" Act_of_Reparation Apr 2019 #9
Mass murder? Yes. Genocide? Not really. eom guillaumeb Apr 2019 #10
That makes your gaffe less offensive, I guess. Act_of_Reparation Apr 2019 #11
It makes my response a reference to the actual lyrics of the actual song. guillaumeb Apr 2019 #12
Some people do find wholesale slaughter offensive. Act_of_Reparation Apr 2019 #13
It's OK if they're heretics, though, see? MineralMan Apr 2019 #15
Are those pictures of the Chinese government persecuting theists? trotsky Apr 2019 #16
I know. Horrible! MineralMan Apr 2019 #17
And who said that? guillaumeb Apr 2019 #19
Popes said that. MineralMan Apr 2019 #20
Not killing heretics, apparently. Act_of_Reparation Apr 2019 #21
As they should. eom guillaumeb Apr 2019 #18
I guess it's not about the lyrics Cartoonist Apr 2019 #14
Most historians disagree. Act_of_Reparation Apr 2019 #22
Yes, a very sad story, indeed. MineralMan Apr 2019 #6

PoindexterOglethorpe

(26,576 posts)
1. I never knew that.
Sat Apr 13, 2019, 04:25 PM
Apr 2019

I well recall the song "Dominique", and had not known what eventually happened to her. How sad. And how despicable that she was abandoned like that.

greatauntoftriplets

(176,727 posts)
2. That's so sad.
Sat Apr 13, 2019, 04:33 PM
Apr 2019

I remember her well and the sensation that song was. I knew that she had left the convent and then later died, but not all this.

3catwoman3

(25,366 posts)
3. We had her LP.
Sat Apr 13, 2019, 04:43 PM
Apr 2019

At the time, I could sing along, phonetically, to the chorus. To my surprise, I pretty much still can - as soon as I started reading this, the song bubbles up from the depths of my memory. Haven't a clue what the words mean.

Karadeniz

(23,343 posts)
4. I didn't know the whole story. The Catholic church, as an institutions, too often falls short
Sat Apr 13, 2019, 05:18 PM
Apr 2019

when it comes to Christian values. Why didn't it intervene in the tax issue? Very disappointing stance. Considering the history of the church and its current evils, I wonder that anyone sticks with it. Habit? Cowardice? A bad tree can't produce good fruit.

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
12. It makes my response a reference to the actual lyrics of the actual song.
Tue Apr 16, 2019, 12:38 PM
Apr 2019

Which was listened to, and sung, in my school.

But if one is looking for a reason to be offended, anything will do.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
13. Some people do find wholesale slaughter offensive.
Tue Apr 16, 2019, 12:51 PM
Apr 2019

Some don't, it seems. Or, rather, only when it happens to their people.

MineralMan

(147,334 posts)
20. Popes said that.
Tue Apr 16, 2019, 04:46 PM
Apr 2019

C'mon...you knew that. They supported killing heretics. One church; one line of Popes.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
22. Most historians disagree.
Wed Apr 17, 2019, 07:48 AM
Apr 2019

Including Raphael Lemkin, who invented the word. But whatever, we have long established words mean whatever the hell you want them to mean at whatever moment you happen to mean it. So go forth and heartily ice cream yourself.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Religion»The Tragic Life of the Si...