In the previous post I asked the question: Francis: Mediator or Activist? In this continuation of the series I take a closer look at Francis in the role of mediator and in the role of advocate.
Saint Francis of Assisi: Mediator or Political Activist? Part 1
June 7, 2010 by |
In my quest to know St. Francis better I have encountered Franciscan views that cause me to question my assumptions, for example, opinions put forth by the Franciscan Action Network or FAN. In position papers and public announcements FAN paints a picture of Francis that is new to me. This discovery motivated me to explore the following questions:
JustPeace
May 7, 2010 by |
In a recent blog post I spoke of ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. A few days later I discovered the Facebook page for JustPeace, the Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation of the United Methodist Church.
Engaging Interfaith Dialogue
April 29, 2010 by |
Religion can be a powerful force for peace; it can also motivate division and hostility. St. Francis, frequently called the Universal Brother, was particularly successful in interfaith dialogue, as documented in the story of his meeting with the Sultan Malik al-Kamil.
Do Not Give Peace a Chance
April 28, 2010 by |
In a Wall Street Journal editorial this week (Peace Processes Never Work), Bret Stephens argues that many if not most high profile peace efforts fail. The facts cited in the article seem imply or even prove that peacemaking is a mostly futile endeavor.
Revisiting the Manhattan Declaration
February 2, 2010 by |
There are few innovations that compare with Facebook when it comes to no-waiting-required social feedback, particularly the type of feedback that identifies your considerable character flaws in graphic detail. Dare to suggest a popular plan of action might suffer from flaws…
Restorative Justice
January 30, 2010 by |
This past week, I returned to the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University Law School, where I earned a Masters in Dispute Resolution, for an event co-hosted by the prestigious Nootbaar Institute on Law, Religion, and Ethics.
Health Care: The Golden Opportunity
January 24, 2010 by |
In previous blog posts I discussed Taming the Wolf concepts using health-care legislation as a working example. This past week the vote in Massachusetts validated my anticipation the public dissatisfaction that results from a corrupt process.
Coercive Healthcare Legislation
December 20, 2009 by |
St. Francis frequently admonished his friars to eschew domination and coercion. Thus, I was surprised when the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) recently endorsed coercive aspects of healthcare legislation.
Saint Francis of Assisi: Mediator or Political Activist? Part 3
In the previous posts I argued Francis was more likely to act in the tradition of the Great Mediator, Christ, than he was to become a political activist. Francis’ activism, I concluded, would be limited to advocating for a gospel life, not for politics.