Dear Gavin,

Our e-mail system crashed for several days from Thursday through Sunday, and I just got your first e-mail last night.

I do monitor comments and don’t publish all of them. It’s my own personal blog, and I figure I’m not running a newspaper. It’s a spot for my homilies, or just sharing things like whats on my mind, as is any blog.

I would just take a little issue with your blog post though. This congregation is anything but spineless. The congregation doesn’t hire and fire clergy; clergy like me are sent to the parish and can be pulled at the discretion of the Archbishop. We can apply to be sent to a parish, and then the Archbishop may send us to that parish, and we can ask for a transfer but must leave after 12 years in a church and go to another church. In Fr. Mike’s case, he voluntarily resigned, and was not fired. He also still is a priest. I haven’t heard from him in quite a while, but let him know he’s got my prayers and support and whenever he feels like contacting me I’m sure he will. Hopefully he’s working through some issues and I know the Archdiocese is giving him support as well, and he’ll remerge in another role to serve our universal Church and Archdiocese.

You also need to take into consideration our job as a priest is different than other jobs; we are more public people. Fr. Mike committed a misdemeanor crime, and I think cops need to patrol areas and set up stings to keep parks safe. Actions have consequences; remember the senator at the airport who got caught in a similar situation quickly lost his position and was shoved out by the party. It should be illegal for anyone to engage in inappropriate behavior in a public place; there are kids and others around who enjoy the park, and I’m glad they set up stings to check this out. I used to jog in that area a lot. I’m pretty sure he simply went before a judge and got a fine, but I’m not sure. He could not very well come back and work in a church environment when that is in the press, so his leaving I think was prudent. No one here pressured him at all; in fact he’s gotten numerous cards and letters which have been sent on to him, and people aren’t spineless at all, but just sad and trying to move forward and also sad for him but hopeful that he gets the help he needs to move forward as a priest and as a man. He helped me quite a bit, and was supportive of my work and I do wish him the best and keep him in my prayers. I think the Archbishop and Archdiocese handled it very well; they were out here that weekend, the staff was there for the people, and the Archdiocese also had someone here to talk to the older school kids and I did that as well. Like I said, I think they are moving on and healing, and the Archdiocese is helping Fr. Mike.

Again, I don’t publish all comments because it’s my own private blog, and you can do the same thing on your blog if you so desire. So I wouldn’t approve yours because then someone would easily find your blog and probably be hurt by seeing their parish described as “spineless,” so I think you can understand. You’re entitled to your opinion as is everyone else, but my blog is for my opinions, not an open forum.

Have a great weekend and thanks for the e-mail,

Fr. Paul

[Unedited Quotation]

This week we will be practicing identifying needs and trying to take statements where the speaker is not taking responsibility for their own feelings and translating statement into possible observation, feeling and need.

For example: the statement: "She is irresponsible: we all agreed to let someone know if we weren't going to show up."

Translation could be: "When I hear that none of us got a call from her, I feel discouraged because I want to be able to count on us carrying through with agreements we make together". (universal need identified: reliability, trust, integrity)

Isn't it nice to be reminded that we have choices in how we receive a negative message from someone or from within ourselves? One leads to compassionate conversation with self and others and others lead to contentious uncivil discourse.

Lots to absorb but we can hang in there together and slowly but surely it will sink in so don't get discouraged!

November 30 meeting date, explained

We're meeting a week later than usual--just this month--to accommodate members' holiday schedules.

"KASA" defined

A beloved teacher at the School for International Training--Dr. Alvino Fantini--would often tell us that there are four categories of things that a teacher can teach you:

Knowledge
Awareness
Skills
Attitudes

Since hearing Alvino say this often, back in 1992, it always surprises me how often people say 'skills' or 'knowledge' when they clearly mean KASA.

Email from Elizabeth Linares to GS - 10/7/10

Mr. Sullivan,

I have received your e-mail. If you would like to discuss the Eagle Heights mission statement, I am happy to have a phone conversation with you; probably easier for me to answer your questions that way.

Feel free to contact me at 952-975-7211.

Elizabeth Linares

My Complaint to Brother Derek

Good day Derek,

Sheila Kihne operates the most harshly-censored comments section of any local blog that I have observed.

If I knew that a local lefty-blogger categorically banned you from his comments section for transparently ideological reasons, I would very much look down on that person. (Indeed, I would contact the person to complain.)

I would never seek to promote such a writer's work--as I don't work on behalf of unethical people--as a fundamental matter of principle.

I am sad to see that you take such an accommodating perspective, as regards cowardice.

All the best,

Gavin Sullivan

Eden Prairie, MN

Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion Mission Statement

Remember, I'm asking the principal why Spanish was selected, as Eden Prairie's only foreign-language immersion option.

I've put the question to her three times now. She still appears to think her school's Mission Statement in some way answers my question. It says nothing in answer to my question.

Promote intellectual curiosity, academic excellence, and intercultural understanding and competence through a language immersion education.

Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion School:

* Values respect, encouragement and meaningful learning
* Promotes trust and communication within a partnership of students, staff, parents, and community
* Provides opportunities for learners to enhance their strengths and build the foundations for life-long learning
* Is committed to culturally relevant pedagogy and anti-racist education

**

Mr. Sullivan,
I have received your e-mail. If you would like to discuss the Eagle Heights mission statement, I am happy to have a phone conversation with you; probably easier for me to answer your questions that way.
Feel free to contact me at 952-975-7211.
Elizabeth Linares