Mother Mary Clare Millea has been appointed by the Vatican to study the activities of some orders of nuns in the United States.

The Vatican is quietly conducting two sweeping investigations of American nuns, a development that has startled and dismayed nuns who fear they are the targets of a doctrinal inquisition.

While some nuns say they are grateful that the Vatican is finally paying attention to their dwindling communities, many fear that the real motivation is to reel in American nuns who have reinterpreted their calling for the modern world.

Sister Sandra M. Schneiders has urged fellow nuns not to participate in the study that is being conducted by the Vatican.