In this and the two posts that follow, I take a closer look at liabilities that accrue when Franciscans turn to political activism. This critique was written as a contemplative exercise, an attempt to understand the role best suited to the charism of Francis.
Facilitating Engagement & Dialogue
June 14, 2010 by |
In the presence of a mediator such as St. Francis, skilled at facilitating engagement and dialogue, this axiom rings true. However, human engagement and dialogue alone does not guarantee an opportunity to promote peace.
Civility in Discourse
June 11, 2010 by |
In this post, I will continue to analyze the guidelines for civil discourse advanced by FAN. As in the previous post, I consider whether or not it is possible to adhere to these guidelines while engaging in political activism.
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.
Making Decisions
January 9, 2010 by |
A mediator facilitates a process the parties consider fair and just; a mediator encourages candor and respect between parties; and he fosters a collaborative approach to satisfying party interests. Nonetheless, the outcome may be sabotaged by flawed decision-making.
Satisfaction
December 29, 2009 by |
How do we measure success in mediation? Typically we assess party satisfaction. We look at three variables: procedural, psychological, and substantive satisfaction.
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.
Immigration Reform
In this post I continue to analyze the potential adverse consequences that accrue to political activism, consequences that may cause us to depart, inadvertently, from the charism of Francis.