Right Use of Power Institute
  • Home
  • About
    • Right Use of Power Institute >
      • Board of Directors
      • Racial Justice Statement
      • Annual Reports
    • RUPI Teacher's Guild
    • RUP Newsletters >
      • Newsletter Sign Up
    • RUP Blog
    • Contact Us
  • Learn
    • Learn About RUP >
      • RUP Core Concepts
      • RUP Core Curriculum
      • Appreciations
    • 2021 Guild Conference
    • Books & E-Courses
    • Be Power Positive
  • Trainings
    • Upcoming Trainings
    • Core Training Registration
    • Teacher Training Registration
    • Training Testimonials
  • Find a Teacher
    • Affiliated Teachers
  • Store

Power with Strength and Compassion, Wisdom and Skill

10/2/2015

0 Comments

 
By Cedar Barstow

Pope Francis is offering us a remarkable example of right use of power.  He understands and owns the extraordinary role power given to him as Pope.  He could get caught, as many leaders do, in the shadow side of power.  Instead, he demonstrates that a powerful person can take tough and decisive action and at the same time act with compassion and tenderness.  His spiritual and moral guidance is toward the greatest common good as is felt in his words to the US Congress.

"If politics must truly be at the service of the human person, it follows that it cannot be a slave to the economy and finance. Politics is, instead, an expression of our compelling need to live as one, in order to build as one the greatest common good: that of a community which sacrifices particular interests in order to share, in justice and peace, its goods, its interests, its social life. I do not underestimate the difficulty that this involves, but I encourage you in this effort." 

I want to note a few examples of his power infused with compassion.  While the Pope is not free to change the church's teachings, he does feel free to encourage change from focusing on dogma to focusing on compassion for all. He urges Christians not to "obsess" over issues of abortion, contraception, and gay marriage, but to be in service to all people. He demoted a high-ranking Vatican Cardinal who had been harsh and dogmatic about homosexuality and yet he softens the criticism of nuns and praises their exemplary leadership.  He takes a strong stand on global warming and on corruption and abuses of power in politics.  He took extra-ordinarily strong action in firing all but one of the priests who run the Vatican Bank.  He calls "unfettered capitalism tyranny and says that economic inequity kills."  Demonstrating his desire to stay in touch with all the people he serves, he reportedly leaves the Vatican at night to minister to the homeless anonymously.  This desire to stay connected is wise because it is one of the antidotes to being overtaken by the shadow of power.  It is refreshing and good for the soul for right uses of power to be in the news. 

Here's a link to Francis' speech to congress.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Dr. Cedar Barstow, D.P.I.

    Archives

    March 2018
    May 2017
    January 2017
    April 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    July 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture