stfranman Uncategorized

Remembering J. Christopher Basile

I am remembering my son J. Christopher Basile today. It was one year ago today that Chris was taken from us.

There is a place in Human Experience where three terrible things can sometimes come together. When people must deal with serious mental health issues and addiction while living with a very serious, often fatal, chronic disease, it can be very bleak indeed. Few survive having to drink that dreadful cocktail.

I’m remembering my son today and everyone who must deal with serious, multiple challenges in life. The painful truth is that the odds are stacked against them.

Chris had so many wonderful qualities. But, at the same time, a lot of things that pulled him in a dark direction. He was very human. He was my son. I loved him dearly in this life and will in the Life to Come.

Go forth, O Christian soul, from this world, in the name of God the Father, who created you; in the name of Jesus Christ, who suffered for you; in the name of the Holy Spirit, who walked beside you. May your rest be this day in Peace, and your abode in the Dwelling Place of God. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Commendation of the Soul



© 2023 Benjamin Lawrence Basile

Photo credit Ben Lawrence Basile

stfranman Uncategorized

Jerry Falwell scandal, a follow up

In a post two days ago, I laid out a brief accounting of the recent scandal around the conduct of Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr.

It was set off by a photo Rev Falwell posted to his Instagram account. As scandals go, it was a pretty big deal.

I said in that posting that I thought he would escape any serious consequences for what he did.

I was wrong about that. He has now taken an indefinite leave of absence from his post. As you probably know, that’s usually what happens just before a high-level leader or CEO gets fired.

The tendency to look the other way when powerful men do something really over-the-top is so common. I was certain that this would be another episode.

It looks like the University has done/is doing the right thing.

Although we can’t be sure about where this may go from here, it appears that I was way off as far as my assessment of how it would all turn out.

Happy to have been wrong about this sad situation.

Brother Ben

© 2020 The Fellowship of St Francis, Inc.

stfranman Uncategorized

Friday Funny for July 26th

God is talking to one of his angels and says, “Let me tell you what I just did! I created a 24-hour period of alternating light and darkness on Earth. Isn’t that good?”

The angel says, “Yes, but what will you do now?”

And God said, “I think I’ll call it a day.”

I hope your Friday and your weekend are wonderful.

With some moments of mirth and hilarity!

Brother Ben

stfranman Uncategorized

Friday Funny for June 28th

A kindergarten teacher was walking around observing her classroom while the children were drawing pictures. She got to one girl who was hard at work and asked her what she was drawing.


      Came the answer, “I’m drawing God.”
      The teacher paused for a moment and said,
“But darling, no one knows what God looks like.”
      Without looking up from her drawing, the girl replied,
“They will in a minute.”

Brother Ben

stfranman Uncategorized

The Urgent Tasks We Face

We are right on the cusp of Spring as I write this. At a time when we often think about new life, new beginnings and new possibilities, a lot of folks are feeling as though we’re stuck in some kind of long-term moral and ethical winter. A really cold, dark–and very long–winter.

People of faith, and people who simply believe that selflessness and compassion should inform our attitudes and actions are finding that their voices are being drowned out by the droning of baleful voices calling for selfishness, suspicion and cruelty.

And these voices seem to be growing louder with each passing day.

It’s time to take a close look at what’s happening in our corporate life here in America and face a very dark and difficult time with courage and compassion.

Some of the urgent issues I want to focus on in this blog:

  • The problems posed by extreme, authoritarian religious practices
  • Creating a spiritual home for people exiting extremism
  • The problems we face saving our planet from environmental destruction
  • Honoring all life on Earth, not only our own species

Those four issues mentioned above are so important right now. And they’re interconnected. I’m hoping that our Fellowship–the FSF–will be effective in shining a light on these issues, stimulating discussion about solutions and creating a community for all like-minded friends who care.

So in the next few weeks and months, I’d like to take a closer look at these issues to see first, why they’re so important and then, how we can take action to address them.

Brother Ben

© 2019 The Fellowship of St Francis, Inc.