"The church clearly is going to have to find a way of stopping the declining numbers of nuns..."
There is no need to stop the decline. Less reason to increase it.  They served a purpose for a moment in history, and time to move on, die out.  Historically, in the West, women as nuns, sisters (technically according to RCC's Sharia Law there is a difference) were one of the rare options for women who did not want to marry nor have a sufficient dowry to marry, and who preferred the company of women. Fortunately, we are evolving where patriarchy is on the decline. This is what should be hastened altogether. Equal disciples for the Kingdom. Not this top down power usurpation of the gospel. Some RCs are nostalgic for ye old days where nuns, sisters were in burqas. Maybe these RCs might wear a RC version of the hijab to simulate sisters of the past.  Seems BT was flailing about for a column?