NEW YORK — The Franciscan Action Network will be hosting a webinar June 17 to discuss “Franciscans & Civility in Public Discourse.”
During the one-hour webinar beginning at 4 p.m., “We will be discussing a Franciscan approach to civil dialogue that seeks to diminish the level of inflammatory language in our national conversations on policy, while looking to St. Francis’ message of peace and dignity to foster mutual respect and intergriy in these challenging conversations,” according to the online flyer.
Presentations will be by Fr. Al Merz, director of the Franciscan Peace Center in Nashville, Tenn., Fr. Clete Kiley, director of The Faith and Politics Institute in Washington, D.C., and Tom Allen, president and CEO of the Association of American Publishers in Washington.
Past webinars coordinated by FAN have included discussions of health care reform and resources for teaching young people about care for creation and Franciscan ideals.
FAN has dedicated the month of June to prayers and deeds in response to the economic and ecological disaster unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico. The FAN website includes a page of resources called “A Franciscan Response to the Gulf Oil Disaster.”
The website also includes information about immigration principles and policy priorities.
Russell Testa, director of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office, encouraged friars and partners-in-ministry to join FAN’s e-mail list to regularly receive news about the Franciscan Action Network.