I am... surprised, impressed, thankful, and humbled. Thank you, Facebook. Thank you, Greer, of Facebook Community Operations. I must admit that I didn't expect to be back on Facebook as Fr. Justin, but you went above and beyond my expectations.
[Image]I am particularly thankful to be back on Facebook as "Fr. Justin Edward Hewlett". The experience of being cut off from eight years of my past pictures and posts, and of being barred from one of the most popular and powerful communication tools of our internet age was deeply disturbing and disempowering - but, in the end, good has come out of it. As I wrote to Google in my original post on this subject in 2011, I have long been seeking a balanced way to articulate the complex reality of my compund identity: to most who know me on Facebook I am "Fr. Justin", but to a few of the most important people in my life I will always be "Edward". My preferred solution, which Google+ forced me to abandon, was to refer to myself as "Fr. Justin (Edward) Hewlett" - now I'm back on Facebook not just as "Fr. Justin", but as "Fr. Justin Edward Hewlett"! I am thankful: out of evil, God brings good.
I am also humbled. As I said, I didn't expect to be back on Facebook as Fr. Justin, which betrayed a lack of faith - in God, yes, but more particularly in the goodness of the people who make up the organization that is Facebook. As I have said at a much more significant point in my life long before, the only thing I like better than being proved right in a debate is being proved decisively wrong. Facebook, you have transcended my expectations.
As Abbot Tryphon, a much more influential member of the Facebook community who was likewise locked out and let back in, wrote about an hour ago in his post "ISOLATION": "Community is the essential element." So long as Facebook continues to balance the basic business necessities it faces with its commitment to building community, so long as we continue to use the powerful tool Facebook provides us with in the service of love, so long there will remain hope.
Facebook's response to my response to their response (and to my providing them with official documentation of my legal identity):
Hi Fr. Justin,
Thanks for your response. We've changed your name and reactivated your account. You should now be able to log in.
Please keep in mind that you'll no longer be able to update your name from your settings. If you need to change your name in the future (ex: you get married), please fill out this form:
[link redacted]
You can also list another name (ex: nickname, maiden name) on your profile along with your authentic name. Learn more about other names in the Help Center:
"Facebook Status Update: I am... Fr. Justin!"
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