A Personal Reflection on the Work of Catholic Sisters
By Patrick Carolan, FAN Executive Director
"By now, I am sure you all have heard of the Doctrinal Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). I am in no position to comment on the document, and the Sisters do not need me to tell them how to respond, so I want to offer my own personal reflection about what Catholic Sisters have meant to me. ..."
Read the Full Reflection
Franciscans Stand With Immigrants
UPDATE: Watch Fr. Peter Lyons, TOR, speak in front of the Supreme Court:
UPDATE: Read an Interfaith Immigration Coalition press release about the first day of the event
On April 25, the Supreme Court hears arguments on Arizona's anti-immigrant law, SB 1070, in United States vs. Arizona. The Court's ruling is expected in June. Thousands of people will converge on the steps of the Supreme Court April 23 through April 25, including faith communities and organizations, who will hold a 48-hour prayer vigil beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday. View a flyer for the events.
FAN staff will participate in the Washington, D.C. events, and all FAN members are invited to join in spirit and prayer with those who will gather at the Supreme Court and with all immigrants. You can use "An Immigrant's Prayer"/"Oración de un Inmigrante" composed by an immigrant to the U.S., Remigio Hernandez, and distributed by Pax Christi USA. All are invited to use this prayer or another of your choice during the days of April 23-25. Additionally, you may "light" a candle online
FAN signed a faith-based organizations’ amicus brief ("Brief for the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights") describing the harm that Arizona law S.B. 1070 would cause to immigrants, even U.S. citizens, if implemented. Because the intent of S.B. 1070 has spread to other states, the Court's decision in the Arizona case will shape the fates of residents in states across the country.
Fan Observes Earth Week 2012
 FAN Care for Creation resources to extend Earth Week throughout the year include:
- An American Catholic Radio interview with
FAN Executive Director Patrick Carolan and Director of Care for Creation
Christine Elliott on our call to care for creation. (Look for an upcoming Earth Day 2012 appearance on the same program by Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM.)
- The C4C: Franciscan Care for Creation program
- Earth Day resources for youth ministry … and adults!
- Reflections on Our Lady of Guadalupe and Environmental Justice in
English and Spanish
- The Catholic Climate Covenant
- View recently added Care for Creation resources in Spanish here, here and here
PRESS RELEASE: Franciscans Welcome Carbon Pollution Standard
March 28, 2012
"The Franciscan Action Network ... welcomes the introduction of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants. FAN members have advocated for the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in recent years. ...
"FAN supports efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions as consistent with the teaching that John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and the Franciscan tradition have articulated," stated FAN Executive Director Patrick Carolan. " ... FAN hopes that regulatory limitation of greenhouse gas emissions will stimulate human creativity and intelligence to find ways to meet our true needs while accepting the complementary need to sacrifice excessive uses of energy."
Read the Full Press Release
FAN Marks Fifth Anniversary of Founding
 One hundred and thirty-five Franciscans from 69 distinct entities - friars, sisters, secular and lay – came together in Baltimore, Maryland on March 7-9, 2007. At this gathering the participants prayed with one another, learned from one another and reflected with one another in the best tradition of the Franciscan spirit. The aim was, and is, to discern how they might move forward in the 21st century as agents of transformation, rebuilding the world through the inspiration of our common Franciscan experience.
At the Baltimore gathering, the community wrote and unanimously affirmed a common statement of unity that called themselves and the larger Franciscan family in the U.S. to establish a structure to bring the humble force of our charism to bear on social transformation.
"We Franciscan brothers and sisters, Religious and Secular, from throughout the United States gathered together in Baltimore, MD to discern the possibility of a unified Franciscan Voice for justice. With great concern for dehumanizing issues in our society, we recognized trends contrary to our calling as followers of Christ. We see that we have the power to effectively advocate for the redistribution of resources, the responsible care for creation, and the healing of relationships within the Franciscan Family, the Church and society. To these ends, we commit ourselves and call all members of the Family to speak with one Franciscan Voice to effect the transformation of national social policy. By walking with our brothers and sisters who are poor and marginalized, we intend to advocate for peace and to reaffirm the dignity of all creation."
This statement was adopted on March 9, 2007.
FAN Statement on 'Radical Environmental Theology'
February 28, 2012
By Patrick Carolan, Executive Director
"During this presidential election cycle there have been questions raised about the moral and faith beliefs of certain candidates. Last week, Senator Rick Santorum suggested that President Obama was following a “radical environmental theology” that is not found in Christian or Biblical teachings. These types of suggestions are not anything new. Earlier in the campaign we heard supporters of Governor Rick Perry claim that Governor Mitt Romney, as a Mormon, was not
really a Christian. ...
Read the Full Statement
Patrick's Statement as Featured in the Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good Forum
Read a Comment on the Statement in a Letter to Editor in Bismarck, North Dakota
WEBINAR: Leaping into Public View - Training in Media Strategy
 A recording of FAN's "Leaping into Public View: Training in Media Strategy" webinar is available, as are the presentation slides.
Presenters reviewed how to engage the news media effectively, using upcoming FAN press events on money in politics as an example. Topics included messaging, communicating with reporters, and writing press releases.
Lent 2012: Faith in the Cross vs. Faith in the Dollar Sign This Lent, FAN reflects on how the Sunday readings speak to us in the context of concern for the influence of money in politics. Each week features a Lectionary reflection, an image from a collage by Br. Jeff Wilson, TOR, and suggested ways to respond.
View FAN's Lent 2012 Webpage
View FAN's Money in Politics Webpage
View FAN's Lent 2012 Blog Reflection Series
WEBINAR: Understanding Compassion: A 50-State Immigration Initiative If you missed FAN's webinar on “Understanding Compassion: A 50-State Immigration Initiative" on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, you can view and listen to the recording online.
The slides which Sr. Marie Lucey, OSF, who oversees FAN's immigration work, and Kent Ferris, OFS who supervises the Immigration Office for the Diocese of Davenport, shared are also available online.
The webinar featured a clickable map (above) highlighting state and local immigration initiatives across the country from the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC). CLINIC will host a webinar to train users of the policy map, March 1, 2-3 pm EST. Contact Karen Lucas at klucas@cliniclegal.org.
Lonnie Ellis joins Secular Franciscan Order Lonnie Ellis, FAN Director of Organizing and Development, was admitted to the St. Anthony of Nagasaki fraternity of the OFS (Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis). He has been through a year and a half of formation, and now looks to full profession in another year. Some of the most inspiring aspects of the Secular Franciscan Rule for Lonnie are:
- "Let them individually and collectively be in the forefront in promoting justice by the testimony of their human lives and their courageous initiatives." (article 15)
- "Let them conform their thoughts and deeds to those of Christ by means of that radical interior change which the gospel calls 'conversion.' Human frailty makes it necessary that this conversion be carried out daily." (article 7)
- "Let the Secular Franciscans seek a proper spirit of detachment from temporal goods by simplifying their own material needs." (article 11)
Pictured is Lonnie (back row, left) along with other newly admitted Franciscans Lenny Garcia (back right) and Meghan Smith (left) and Sarah Garcia (right).
C4C: Franciscan Care for Creation
FAN Inaugurates New Small Group Formation Process Focusing on Ecological Justice
The C4C Franciscan Care for Creation program is the Franciscan Action Network’s adult formation program to prepare communities to live out our ecological vocation by addressing local, national, and international issues. This six-session program includes prayer, stories, visuals, readings, discussion, and a companion DVD.
FAN's effort to promote civility in discourse extends to conversations about how we care for all members of Creation. C4C is an excellent tool for engaging in reflective dialogue and constructive action to make a difference in your community. Your local action can lead to national transformation that affects our brothers and sisters around the world.
To learn more about C4C, click here.
To purchase the C4C facilitator's guide use the button below to visit our new product area.
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March 28, 2012Franciscan Action Network (FAN) supports reducing greenhouse gasemissions to care .... » full text |
February 29, 2012FAN Executive Director Patrick Carolan Responds to Presidential Candidate Rick .... » full text |
January 19, 2012FAN welcomes President's decision to reject the proposed Keystone XL .... » full text |
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