(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA spring Issue #109)

Fr. Jerome Wolbert, OFM

Stories help us see ourselves from a different perspective. That could be one reason Jesus often told parables. It’s certainly one reason I seek out good movies and other programs. I recently found the Ukrainian comedy Servant of the People on YouTube (with subtitles in English). You might remember from news reports that the current president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was a comedian and actor and that he starred in this comedy (2016-2019) about a history teacher who is propelled to become President of Ukraine.

In one of the episodes, the TV-president is “visited” by Ivan the Terrible, who insists on one way of dealing with opponents or enemies that was eerily similar to our polarized culture of today. During a four-way debate in which his very reputation is at risk, Ivan the Terrible appears to the President, urging this younger “Tsar” to root out his enemies—the many corrupt officials—by torturous death. “Death is not enough,” says The Terrible. The TV-President rejects the title “Tsar,” as well as the cruelty. The Tsar laughs it off as the way things are, with a retort for every argument or situation the President presents to make roofing out corruption without death or cruelty credible.

The Tsar will not hear reason, so the President simply says, “You’re heading one way; we, another. Let’s go in different directions, and we’ll talk again in 300 years.”

How do we deal with people who expect that what we know is both bad and not inevitable? The TV- President ditches his limo for the bus. He makes little changes where he can, and with the few loyal people in his orbit, catches criminals when they are greedy or self-assured enough to fall into traps or in some cases to trap themselves and each other.

I have spent the better part of the past two months trying to think of how to write about the polarization we all encounter in our nation and in the Church. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, preaching at the Mass on the first day of the conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013, described the importance of the papal ministry of mercy and building unity in the Church. Also at the conclave, Cardinal Prosper Grech noted the risk of schism:

Between ultra-traditionalist and ultra-progressive extremists, between priests who rebel against obedience and those who do not recognize the signs of the times, there is always the danger of minor schisms that not only damage the Church, but go against the will of God: unity at any cost.

Many of you know that I am a Byzantine Catholic. My sense of this means that I am standing on a bridge between the Latin West and the Orthodox East. Our liturgy and way of talking to and about God are like the Greeks, but we live in communion with Roman Catholics who speak and worship somewhat differently (though if you live in both traditions, you may also experience many similarities when each tradition is at its best).

The polarization in the Church is personally painful for me.

It happens when we are cruel and nasty to each other, demeaning or insulting because someone doesn’t do it the way we want it done, or doesn’t use the right words the way we expect (1 John 4:20-21, Matthew 5:21-22). “They’ll know we are Christians” when we finally decide to love each other.

It happens when we decide we are more knowledgeable than the bishop or bishops and we can make our own decisions about faith or morals, apart from the history of the Church, and teach our view as the only “right” or “true” one. Non-specialists and academic theologians do this in different ways, but we are all susceptible to a kind of self-righteousness on this count.

Polarization happens when we decide that we can reach out to certain people and ignore others who are on our doorstep (Luke 16:19-31). Lazarus on our doorstep is not only the poor and visibly downtrodden, but anyone we choose to ignore who might benefit from a crumb of the faith we profess and yet struggle to live.

We’re surrounded by polarization in our country, those who bemoan it and those who foster it, goading us to the fight. Dare we Christians have the courage to tell Ivan the Polarizer, “You’re heading one way; we, another. Let’s go in different directions, unless you also choose to follow The Way?”

What Way Are You Going?

(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Spring Issue #109)

Diane F. Menditto, OFS, National Vice Minister

As Catholics and Secular Franciscans, we are called to shape society and our Order’s future. We are called to be good communicators and users of the means of communication available to us.

When we hear the word “communication,” the first thing that probably comes to mind is media, that is, forms of communication with an “s.” Pope Francis mentioned this in his statement for the 2014 Communications Day when he said, “…media can help us to feel closer to one another, creating a sense of the unity of the human family which can in turn inspire solidarity and serious efforts to ensure a more dignified life for all. Good communication helps us grow closer, to know one another better, and ultimately, to grow in unity.” But he goes on to make the following points:

• “The walls which divide us can be broken down only if we are prepared to listen and learn from one another.”
• “We need to resolve our differences through forms of dialogue which help us grow in understanding and mutual ”
• “A culture of encounter demands that we be ready not only to give, but also to ”

(Message of Pope Francis for the 48th World Communications Day, June 2014)

All the communications (media) in the world go to waste if we do not communicate who we are to others and seek to understand who they are.

How do we communicate? In the Later Rule, St. Francis inspires us, “I counsel, admonish and exhort my brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ not to quarrel or argue or judge others when they go about in the world; 11but let them be meek, peaceful, modest, gentle, and humble (2 Tim 2:14), speaking courteously to everyone, as is becoming.” (The Later Rule: FA:ED, vol. 1, p. 102)

How we communicate makes a big difference, because true communication requires more than words. Start with an open heart. We should not prejudge what another person is going to say. People remember how we handle a situation and, justly or not, assume that the treatment they have seen us give to others in the past will be how we will treat them in the present.

Creating a supportive environment in our fraternities, our families, and our places of work begins with sharing our own story and listening to another person’s story. Once we start to share ourselves with our listeners, they become ready to hear what we say and feel comfortable sharing themselves.

Authentic communication for us as followers of Christ and St. Francis is how others encounter the person of Jesus through us. We should ask ourselves, “How would Jesus communicate with us if he were here now? How did he communicate with those he met here on earth? How did he show that he valued the identity of his listeners?” As we read Scripture, we find Jesus communicating with his disciples, with sinners, with those possessed by evil. He listened to everyone with great empathy. Think also about his physical contact with others: helping someone to stand up; touching eyes and ears with his saliva; realizing that healing power has gone out from him—it’s not always words!

Today, we are bombarded by media and people talking at us. We have stopped listening to each other in many ways, because communications often drown out communication! Overcoming this phenomenon should be one of our goals as Secular Franciscans. But how?

If we examine many of the difficulties we encounter in fraternity, family, and workplace, we will often find a lack of communication at the outset. Often, the issue is compounded by further misunderstanding because we don’t stop to understand where our brother or sister is coming from. Every person deserves our respect because they, like us, are human beings with the Spirit of God within them. We may not like what they are saying, but we are called to respect their dignity, so, we don’t demean or tear them down.

In our good communication toolbox, we find an excellent talk given by Fr. Eric Law, who spoke at the 2007 Quinquennial Congress. He used the acronym RESPECT to remind us of how we should communicate with one another. R: Take responsibility for what we say and feel without blaming others. E: Use “empathic listening,” meaning that we show the speaker that we are in tune with them and that they are valued and respected. S: Be sensitive to differences in communication styles. P: Ponder what you hear and feel before you speak. (Or before you send an email or make a post!) E: Examine your own assumptions and perceptions. C: Keep Confidentiality. T: Trust ambiguity because we are not here to debate who is right or wrong. Also, trust each other, and develop trust in your fraternity, family, and workplace.

We are called to demonstrate: simplicity—without pretense; poverty— confidence in the Father; humility—the truth of what and who we are before God; minority—recognition that we are servants, not superiors; an abandonment to God—trusting in God’s unconditional love. (See FUN Manual: Vocations; Article 30.2 General Constitutions; and The Franciscan Journey)

If these characteristics are present in us, we will be able and willing to establish trust with our brothers and sisters. We become better communicators, because our respect for others makes us approachable. We are responsive; we keep our promises; we say what we mean, and we mean what we say. We are humble enough to admit our mistakes or admit that not everything we say is the last word. Sometimes a lack of flexibility (stubbornness) can lead to a lack of trust and lack of communication.

Once we know who we are and how we can get along well on a personal level, we are ready to share who we are with others through a good communications plan. Our national and regional websites provide a welcoming environment for our members and those searching to discern a vocation. We attract vocations because visitors can tell that we love our Order and one another just by looking at the websites. We know that our Facebook page is not a place to argue or say controversial things. We try to share the best of who we are and who Francis and Clare are through quotes, formation pieces, wonderful homilies, and excitement over milestones attained by our fraternities. We use Twitter as positive outreach to the public, not to argue or tear down others, but to build up. Among ourselves and publicly, we highlight articles from the TAU newsletter, another communications powerhouse. Local fraternities should follow the example of the National and Regional fraternities. Examine how you communicate with each other and come up with a local plan to spread the word.

You probably have many communications ideas that you would love to share with us. Please do!

We are listening!

Communication is Not Only Words

• Undivided attention and eye contact
• Body Language
• Empathy and mutual support
• Collaboration and sharing of your personal story
• Invitation and outreach
• No personal agenda
• Prayer with and for one another
• Personal example
• Relationship and trust

Good Communication As Part of Our Communications Plan