Southern Nebraska Register
Bishop James Conley received an award July 25 from the Napa Institute, during the organization’s 14th annual summer conference in Napa, Calif.
Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, the ecclesiastical advisor to the Napa Institute, presented Conley with the “Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. Award for Courage in the Public Square.” Bishop Conley was chosen for showing courage in the public square by sharing his struggles with mental health.
The award, inscribed with the Beatitude from Matthew 5:11-12, “blessed are you when men insult you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account…” also reads, “In recognition of your steadfast defense of God’s Church and his children in the face of great adversity. Your example of resolve and unwavering courage has imbued upon faithful Catholics across the country the immense strength to stand firmly in the truth of Christ’s teachings, especially in the areas of sound education, human dignity, and health of soul, mind, and body.”
This May, Bishop Conley released a pastoral letter, “A Future With Hope,” detailing the year-long leave of absence he took from the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln to seek treatment after being diagnosed with PTSD, major depression, anxiety, and tinnitus.
“It was extremely hard to step away from my duties as bishop,” he wrote in the letter, “especially without a set timetable for my return. It was humbling to admit that I didn’t know how long my healing would take—or if I would even return—and I wanted to be honest with my flock about why I was leaving. The cultural stigma around mental health issues can create pressure to hide our struggles. I decided to combat prejudice and my shame by sharing my suffering openly. The outpouring of support and prayer I received from the good people of the Diocese of Lincoln was beyond what I could’ve imagined.”
Bishop Conley said he was “deeply humbled and honored” to receive the award from the Napa Institute.
“Together,” he said, “let us continue to uphold the values of Christ and His Church, guided by the light of the Holy Spirit, as we strive to serve and uplift one another in His name.”
Founded in 2010, the Napa Institute, according to its website, “equips and empowers leaders of faith to live out authentic Catholicism in a world that views us as contrarian. We ensure lay Apostolates not only know what the church teaches, but know how to meaningfully defend why the church teaches what she does.” Co-founder Jesuit Father Robert Spitzer serves as president of the Institute.
