Renaissance Man

Expertise is a hard-got thing. Engineers generally must spend years learning the principles of their respective discipline, along with the habits of mind needed to be an engineer. There's also a lot of science and advanced mathematics. It takes an especially disciplined person to be an engineer.

Similarly, the life of a theologian requires years of study and a deep, abiding understanding of religious history and of the philosophical constructs developed by some of the greatest thinkers of human history. Most theologians are well acquainted with the ideas of thinkers from Aquinas to Zwingli. The best theologians spend most of their lives grappling with the implications of faith and the challenges of understanding not only the staggering record left behind by their predecessors but also understanding God in the modern context.

These things are hard work and I admire those who devote their lives to such disciplines. But every once in a while someone comes along who doesn't need that sort of background. A person appears in the public prints who can get beyond the challenges of gaining and maintaining expertise, a person who knows better and can correct those who don't understand. We are fortunate to have someone like that in our midst.

His name is Nick Coleman.

I've been enjoying Mr. Coleman's expertise in the local press for years now, first with the St. Paul Pioneer Press and for the last several with the Star Tribune. Coleman has the unique ability to cut through the distractions that cause people like engineers and theologians to proceed with caution before making pronouncements about the nature of things. Mr. Coleman simply knows better. And he has been willing to share his erudition with the rest of us, to our great fortune.

You might recall that a major bridge over the Mississippi River fell at the beginning of August. There is a small army of engineers, scientists and academic experts who have spent the last few months trying to understand what happened and why. It's been clear to those of us who read Mr. Coleman that these people are engaged in folly. Mr. Coleman figured out who was responsible for this event early on, even before authorities had been able to identify the victims. He has been tirelessly reminding us ever since.

In today's column Mr. Coleman was kind enough to set straight the incoming archbishop. John Nienstedt, who will take over responsibility for the flock currently ministered by Archbishop Harry Flynn next year, was clearly errant in relying on scriptural analysis, or the words of St Paul, or many centuries of church teaching on the subject of homosexuality. Instead, Nienstedt should be listening to Mr. Coleman and "Catholic friends and relatives of gay and lesbian people in the Twin Cities," per Mr. Coleman's column. These individuals, which today's Star Tribune describes as Nienstedt's "peers" in the jump for Mr. Coleman's column from the front page of the Metro section, have a deeper understanding of Catholic theology than Bishop Nienstedt.

I'm glad that Mr. Coleman pointed that out today. Bishop Nienstedt will be taking over in a year and he clearly needs to get his mind right about this, and many other things, before he can effectively lead his flock. Perhaps if Bishop Nienstedt pays closer attention to the teachings of Mr. Coleman, he might also discover who was responsible for causing the bridge to collapse. A fellow in Nienstedt's position needs to know such things and thank goodness Mr. Coleman is available to provide his patient, reasoned instruction. It's hard to gain such an understanding when you're only the Bishop of New Ulm.