These Rock and Roll Stars AKA Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) had their fair share of complications.

In the 1960s, there were 600 professed Sisters in 68 elementary schools, 11 high schools, one college, and two hospitals. In the late 1960s a dispute arose between the institute and Archbishop James Francis McIntyre of Los Angeles. From 1962-1965, the Second Vatican Council focused on the renewal of the Catholic Church including women’s and men’s religious communities around the world. The Council called for more effective ways to respond to newly emerging needs for service and for the revitalization of the connection between people and Church. Responding to the changes prompted by Vatican II and moved by contemporary philosophies, modern psychology and evolving feminist consciousness, the Immaculate Heart Sisters embraced the call to transformation.

Then-superior Anita Caspary remained firm in implementing the reforms and on February 1, 1970, a majority of IHM Sisters followed Caspary and were subsequently dispensed from their vows and fired from the schools in the archdiocese and went on to form a non-canonical group that admits both men and women known as the Immaculate Heart Community. 

An ensuing property settlement left remaining the IHM sisters with certain properties, while those dispensed obtained control of Immaculate Heart College and Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles.

“Rebel Hearts” documentary premiered on the 1st night of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival with resounding reviews. You can now stream the movie on Discovery Plus.