Dan Conway’s The Good Steward

Dan Conway’s The Good Steward
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Friday, March 23, 2018


The US Congress is hopelessly dysfunctional.


For decades now, no matter which political party is “in control,” Congress has been unable or unwilling to do anything for the children of immigrants (dreamers). Comprehensive immigration reform is an election issue that is totally ignored once the election is over. 

A plague on both houses of Congress! Shame on you senators and representatives in congress.

In addition to Congress’s chronic failure to deal with immigration in ways that protect citizens and ensure the dignity and basic human rights of families seeking a better life, Congress has failed to safeguard the consciences of health care workers who refuse to take part in medical procedures that violate their beliefs. 

A plague on both houses of Congress! Shame on you senators and representatives in congress.

Finally, Congress has once again failed to reign-in irresponsible spending so that the national debt continues to accumulate faster than anyone can count. We are bankrupting our nation and mortgaging our children and grandchildren’s future because of our addictive behavior.  

A plague on both houses of Congress! Shame on you senators and representatives in congress.

When will the dysfunction end? When we stop electing demagogues who tell us what we want to hear and then act as they see fit—feathering their own nests at our nation’s expense. 

A plague on both houses of Congress! Shame on you senators and representatives in congress.

Let’s get rid of the bums and elect women and men of integrity. Let’s limit their terms and insist that they pledge their allegiance to the interests of their constituents not to the lobbyists and special interest groups. Let’s demand they serve our interests and not their own. 

 A plague on both houses of Congress! Shame on you senators and representatives in congress.


Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Today we celebrate St. Benedict’s passing (transitus) from death to eternal life. 


Benedict of Nursia compiled a rule for monks that has served as a guide for living the Gospel for more than 1500  years. Its down-to-earth, practical approach has proven effective not only for monks but for all who seek God in their daily lives. Here is a description of the Rule of St. Benedict from the website of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, St. Meinrad, IN.



The Rule of St. Benedict

st. benedict mural
Image of St. Benedict on a mural in Memorial Lobby
The Rule of St. Benedict was written as a guide to living life in community. It was not the first "rule" for Christian followers, but its common-sense approach and Scripture-based guidelines have stood the test of time.
Here are some comments about the Rule from Fr. Harry Hagan, OSB, a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey:

A Guide to Monastic Life

St. Benedict wrote his Rule roughly between 530 and 540 A.D. during the decline of the Roman Empire. Despite the chaos of the invading tribes, St. Benedict produced a classic statement on the monastic life.
By "classic," I mean a statement that transcends its historical situation. Though some of the guidelines belong only to its historical context, much in the Rule provides a vision that speaks not just to monastic life, but to life as a Christian and as a human being.
The Rule belongs generally to the wisdom tradition. This includes biblical wisdom such as the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Sirach. Wisdom literature balances opposing values.

An Example of Wisdom Literature

For example, "A stitch in time saves nine" is balanced by "Haste makes waste." The wise not only know both sayings, but they also know which one applies to the present situation--whether to act quickly or to move carefully and deliberately.
Wisdom is experiential knowledge that comes from living and not just studying. An understanding of the Rule comes not just from studying, but from living and being a part of a tradition.
Wisdom literature is wider than the Bible. Egypt had a number of "instructions," typically by a sage to his "son."
In similar fashion, St. Benedict opens his Rule by calling on the disciple to listen to the teacher, and so the Rule establishs the classic master-disciple relationship that can be found in many cultures. This relationship depends on the disciple entrusting himself or herself to the teacher in mutual trust and respect.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Critics of Pope Francis make me sad and angry. 


I don’t agree with everything the pope says or does. That’s not the point. Regardless of what we think about his surprising gestures or his attempts to unsettle us just when we’ve gotten comfortable with our lives, there is a reverence due to the Vicar of Christ that should cause us to stop and think.

Jesus was unconventional too. He disturbed the status quo. He challenged his disciples and the religious leaders of his day to look beyond their limited horizons in order to discover and do the Father’s will.

Is Pope Francis perfect? Not according to his own assessment of himself as “a sinner.” Is he a saint? Time and the grace of God will tell. Is he a heretic? Don’t be absurd. Does his teaching on morality need nuancing, even correction? Brighter minds than mine will have to examine and then speak to these issues, but from where I stand I think it’s pretty clear that Pope Francis is a man of the Church who is struggling to bring God’s love and mercy to all. Especially to those on the peripheries.

Pope Francis deserves our attention and our respect—both because of his position and because of what he has said and done during the past five years.