"During his talk, he said family is important to him, and he values the concept of the common good for all. He said the duty of religious leaders is to speak to the issues of the day. All in all, he sounded quite smooth and elegant. I felt that I would appear a fool if I was dragged out, protesting his performance."
You were correct. Here is what Jim Forest said about "prophetic actions":
"Both Dorothy and Merton were firm believers in patient efforts simply to communicate to others what the Gospel is all about, what the Church teaches, and the value of paying attention to saints who in various ways set a timely example. This is not so much carrying out what are sometimes called “prophetic actions” as engaging in ordinary acts of communication. While being patient and even supportive of me and others who engaged in such dramatic acts of civil disobedience as breaking into draft offices and burning draft files, neither Dorothy nor Merton recommended such tactics as a method of protest." (Jim Forest at the Catholic Peace Fellowship Conference in South Bend, Indiana, on 24 March 2007)
"During his talk, he said family is important to him, and he values the concept of the common good for all. He said the duty of religious leaders is to speak to the issues of the day. All in all, he sounded quite smooth and elegant. I felt that I would appear a fool if I was dragged out, protesting his performance."
You were correct. Here is what Jim Forest said about "prophetic actions":
"Both Dorothy and Merton were firm believers in patient efforts simply to communicate to others what the Gospel is all about, what the Church teaches, and the value of paying attention to saints who in various ways set a timely example. This is not so much carrying out what are sometimes called “prophetic actions” as engaging in ordinary acts of communication. While being patient and even supportive of me and others who engaged in such dramatic acts of civil disobedience as breaking into draft offices and burning draft files, neither Dorothy nor Merton recommended such tactics as a method of protest." (Jim Forest at the Catholic Peace Fellowship Conference in South Bend, Indiana, on 24 March 2007)