June 2009 - Volume 2, Issue 4
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Peace and All Good!
A Plea for Virtues
by Russell Testa,
FAN Executive Director
, the other day I attended a briefing on Capitol Hill. As I listened to a few members of Congress speak, I gained an insight as to our purpose as citizens working from a religious foundation engaged in the public sphere. We are to be "conduits" for building virtues; two in particular: courage and prudence.
What is lacking in many decision-making efforts--whether in the governmental sector or in other parts of life--is the courage required to make hard choices. And to make hard choices in such a way that is not "foolhardy," one needs prudence to find the correct balance.
To fulfill this part of our role, we must engage in actions that increase the prudential judgment of our fellow citizens and elected officials. We also must help them find the courage to carry out these often difficult actions. In this issue of the newsletter, we report on our experience of the Franciscan Campaign on Climate Change and we see first-hand how these virtues are enlivened through our work.
For the first phase of the campaign, FAN members met with sixty-one of their Representatives and/or staffs. Our shared message upheld a relational balance between care for the natural world and special attention for persons who are poor. Our message brought a measure of prudence to the process. However, simply striking a good balance in policy is never enough. We need to help our elected officials find the courage to act. Politicians--like all of us--gain courage when they see that they are not alone; when they see that others will stand with them. As FAN members, we help our elected officials gain courage by sending them messages, making phone calls, and writing letters to the editors. All of these "advocacy actions" show that we will stand behind those who have the courage to act.
But what makes this a religious act? Anyone can engage in these advocacy actions. Integrating it with patient, humble prayer in preparation for our actions is what differentiates. We must always ensure that our Franciscan values shape the way we approach our lives, and the messages that we bring to the world, including those to our elected officials. Thank you to all FAN members who have answered the prayerful invitations to be conduits of virtue.
Finally, as the Franciscan Action Network becomes better organized, we enjoy new opportunities and new responsibilities. As FAN advocates, we must consistently show clear support for our own mission. In this newsletter, our Director of Development & Communications Peter Sloan introduces the "Little Portion Appeal." This campaign marks an exciting moment for FAN. FAN depends upon strong support from the Franciscan institutions that have joined FAN. FAN also has received strong support from grant sources. To continue to demonstrate FAN's value to these funding partners, they need to see that individuals are willing to contribute their part to the funding mix.
"Investment" from individual members shows full engagement of all parts of our movement for social transformation. Please join us as we take this next step-courageously and prudently-in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare.
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 Announcement
The Little Portion Appeal: Not How Much, But How Many?
Inaugural fundraiser makes participation its bottom line
FAN's first appeal will be called the "Little Portion Appeal" and it will not be about money. The appeal will be about persons, as in how many the network can get to step up to the donors' plate. Success will not be measured in dollars and cents, but in the number of people who participate..
"We can't be like other non-profits," Peter Sloan said of FAN's novel approach, "we have to find ways to live out the revolutionary Franciscan message somehow." In today's economy-obsessed culture, Mr. Sloan implied that "revolution" amounted to not worrying about the bottom line.
"We hope our members catch the spirit of the appeal and every single one donates a few dollars each," he said, "you know, little portions."
Little portion is a translation of the Italian word, Portiuncula, the name of a chapel which served as a kind of spiritual headquarters for early Franciscan operations in the 13th century. Its meaning swells beyond the literal, however. For centuries the smallness of the chapel has been seen as a symbol of both the humility and greatness of the Franciscan charism.
"We may not set any fundraising records-we don't have those kinds of, uh, Jesuit resources," Mr. Sloan quipped, "but we do think we can set the bar high with respect to participation," he said. Participation is one of the criteria for a relational economy that FAN Research Analyst David Couturier, OFM Cap. writes about in his two-part series.
Click to read more. |
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Care for Creation
Action and "Christ-like Things"
by Grant Clifton,
FAN Coordinator of Growth & Outreach
In light of the recent actions many of you took in support of the American Clean Energy and Securities Act (H.R 2454) I would like to describe what unfolded in front of my eyes here in Washington DC. I was amazed to watch all of the Franciscan teachings I have been recently inundated with put into action. I must be honest, I was nervous about trying to organize such a large effort with so many new people that I had never worked with, most of whom are very busy running very active lives and are part of very active Religious communities. (whew!) 
I knew from experience that it takes time to build relationships even when you meet in person let alone convince someone you've never met before to take action. However, I found this to be completely false when it came to dealing with the Franciscan world. In fact, I was overwhelmed with supportive responses and warm greetings in reply to the first communication sent out about the campaign.
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Human Rights: Immigration
FAN Immigration Advocacy Conference & Training
September 9 - 10, 2009 - 7 pm to 5 pm
Cenacle Conference and Retreat Center
513 W. Fullerton Parkway
Chicago, IL
The immigration policy of our nation is broken and needs repair. Prospects for making comprehensive immigration reform can be seen on the legislative horizon. On the evening of September 9th and all day on September 10th, FAN will sponsor a conference and training to enhance advocacy tools and strategy. We invite all communities and Franciscan groups to consider sending representation from their leadership and those involved in the immigration issues to join the FAN Action Commission. 
The conference will include:
· a keynote speech by Bishop John Manz;
· workshops on community organization skills, the Postville experience, local immigration enforcement, and Franciscan ministry in the immigration communities;
· FAQ session with a panel of experts;
· FAN advocacy strategizing session.
Cost and registration information will be available soon on the FAN website.
Contact Fr. Larry Janezic, OFM at 202-527-7563 or email him for information. | |
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Care for Creation
A Franciscan Approach to Climate Change
by Ríobart É. Breen, SFO Ph.D.,
FAN Research Analyst
In concern for address  ing climate change issues, people of faith have looked to their own various traditions to identify insights and wisdom to help create practical, concrete steps that will make a difference. Christians have looked to the Scriptures, and the Catholic Church has supplemented that effort with insights from its own theological and pastoral tradition. The Catholic Church has found tremendous insight within its own Franciscan heritage, and so contemporary Franciscans in particular are being called upon to draw deeply from the Franciscan Tradition to provide leadership in efforts to address Climate Change.
What particularly Franciscan approaches are helpful for addressing Climate Change issues?
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