Dear National Family,
Thanks for your prayers because the public launch of the
Franciscan Action Network (FAN) went very well last night with a
liturgy written by our own Jan Parker, "orchestrated" by our own
Stephanie Sormane, participated in by our own Ken Beattie and
Patti De Witt and photographed (I hope) by our own Dan
Mulholland, who also participated.
The featured speaker was Dr. Maryann Cusimano Love, a true
Renaissance woman (http://maryannlove.com/bio.shtml). Dr. Love
argued quite persuasively that it was time for "Resurrection
Politics," as she phrased it, infusing spiritual and religious
values into the political discussion.
"When all else fails, do the right thing," she said. "And all
else has failed."
On this Fifth Sunday of Lent when Holy Mother Church in her
wisdom gave us the raising of Lazarus, Dr. Love explained that
Resurrection Politics, a term I had not heard before, means
among other things: one, that we are not powerless; two, that
all things are possible with God; and three, that political
issues thought "dead on arrival" can be re-cast and re-told to
effect change.
For example, she told of the efforts of one young American lady
with a personal computer in her own kitchen in 1991 who decided
that the world needed to ban land mines. In the beginning, every
one ignored her. Land mines were efficient killers, were used by
all the major nations, and had the support of the multi-million
dollar arms industry. Banning land mines was an issue "dead on
arrival," and who was this powerless woman, Jody Williams?
Well, in an information age, knowledge matters, stories matter
and ideas matter, asserted Dr. Love. And all truth comes from
God.
Jody Williams told stories of innocent children killed and
maimed by land mines. She did her homework. She told the truth;
she shared her ideas; and in 1997 the Mine Ban Treaty was signed
by more than 100 countries (http://www.icbl.org/campaign/ambassadors/jody_williams).
Will the Franciscan Action Network be effective? That remains to
be seen. It may take years, just as it took Jody Williams, but
if our work comes from God, and we work in Christ, then, maybe,
just maybe, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
Resurrection Politics may make a difference.
In any case, the FAN launch went well and gave hope. Thanks
again for your prayers.
Peace and love and thanks also to all the Secular Franciscans
involved in FAN,
Tom
FAN UPDATE 3/9/2008
Dear
National Family,
I write to
ask your prayers as the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) gathers
its Commissioners, six of the seventeen of whom are Brother and
Sister SFO's (http://www.franciscanaction.org/FAN_Staff.html),
in Washington DC tomorrow, March 6, in preparation for the
public "launch and liturgy" for FAN on Saturday, March 8.
For
sure, to me, politics can be a dirty business, and probably
always has been, but also, for sure, our father St. Francis was
not afraid to speak the truth with love to power as you can read
below his Letter to the Rulers and introductory Commentary.
For
those of you with states that have already held national
primaries, when was the last time that you have heard any
politician from any party use the term "Franciscan values"? When
was the last time that you heard any politician, whether local,
state or national, seriously advocate her or his going "from
Gospel to Life and from Life to Gospel"? Honestly, I think I
never have.
We
have our work cut out for us, and perhaps we may never be very
politically successful in getting the values of Sts. Francis and
Clare spoken seriously and reverently in the halls of local,
state and national power, but we will never know until we try
and until we pray ever more fervently.
As
you know, at our National Meeting in October 2007, we voted
overwhelmingly to support FAN. We will walk and pray and work
with Sisters and Brothers from the First, Second and Third Order
Regulars. We will try to speak the Truth with Love in a unified,
focused and prayerful voice.
Please
pray for your Commissioners, please pray that somehow, some way,
each of us may be more successful in speaking the Truth with
Love to Power at all levels of our nation's political life.
Again,
I beg for your prayers and leave you with the
introductory Commentary and The Letter to the Rulers from the
TOR website (http://www.franciscanfriarstor.com/stfrancis/stf_st_francis'_letter_to_rulers.htm).
Peace
and love with prayers,
Tom
"A Letter
to the Rulers of the People by Saint Francis of Assisi:
The
Poverello, as we learn from his early biographer, Thomas of
Celano, did not hesitate to address himself directly to the
rulers of the world. The First Life, 43, narrates an incident in
which Emperor Otto IV passed the friars' hovel at Rivo Torto,
near Assisi, on his way to Rome to be crowned by the Pope.
Francis sent a friar to call out repeatedly that his glory would
last only a short while. The Second Life, 200, expressed his
wish that emperors would enact laws that on Christmas Day more
than the usual amount of hay be given to the birds, the oxen,
and the asses. He would have no fear, then, to write such a
letter as this to remind rulers of their responsibility before
God.
To all
mayors and consuls, magistrates and rulers throughout the world,
and to everyone who may receive these letters: Brother Francis,
your little and despicable servant in the Lord God, sends his
wishes of health and peace to all of you.
Pause and
reflect, for the day of death is approaching. 1 beg you,
therefore, with all possible respect, not to forget the Lord or
turn away from His commandments by reason of the cares and
preoccupations of this world, for all those who are oblivious of
Him and turn away from His commands are cursed and will be
totally forgotten by Him. And when the day of death does come,
everything which they think they have will be taken from them.
And the wiser and more powerful they may have been in this
world, so much greater will be the punishments they will endure
in hell.
Therefore,
I firmly advise you, my lords, to put aside all care and
preoccupation and receive with joy the most holy Body and the
most holy Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in holy remembrance of
Him.
And you
should manifest such honor to the Lord among the people
entrusted to you that every evening an announcement be made by a
town crier or some other signal that praise and thanks may be
given by all people to the all-powerful Lord God. And if you do
not do this, know that you must render an account before the
Lord your God, Jesus Christ, on the day of judgment.
Let
those who keep this writing with them and observe it know that
they will be blessed by the Lord God."
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