Kathleen Bierne is a Presentation Sister in Aberdeen, South Dakota. From a rural one-room school, she went on to do graduate work in family and child development and canon law. Her ministries have been in education, service as congregational vice president, and currently on several governing boards for their Avera Health system. She also represents the congregation as a badged lobbyist at the state legislature, focusing on issues that impact the vulnerable, immigrants, refugees and education/health care.

The Franciscan Clarist congregation has expelled Sr. Lucy Kalappura, one of its members who had questioned the official church's indifference to a nun who says a Catholic bishop raped her. The congregation cited other reasons for expelling Kalappura, such as buying a car without getting the required permission from her superiors and violating other rules.