Mirth is not a mortal sin!

The editor has spent five years trying to find a Catholic bishop who'd appear in one of these forums in the manner Episcopalian Bishop John Selby Spong does on BeliefNet. He's given up finding a live bishop prepared to join the fray but we're thrilled to inform you that from this week Bishop Laughlin O'Scusemegh has joined Cliff's menagerie.

I'm not going to say there's something wrong with this microphone because you are going to respond, 'And also with you'.

Nor am I going to ask Father Farzenheim if there's anything Rome wants to know about my homily.

Last time I asked a priest for some feedback he said it reminded him of God because it lasted an eternity and it passed all understanding!

He was from Cork, the same as yours truly.

He told me a story about a woman motorist in Ireland, driving along and quite mesmerized by the green scenery. She stopped at the traffic lights, but when they changed she did not move.

The driver behind came and tapped on her window, saying, 'What are you doing - waiting for a different shade of green?'

This week I've been reading up on some history of the infant Church in Australia.

There are some great bits about that pioneer, Father John Joseph Therry, the archpriest – another Corkman.

Although he could be a thorny man and never backed down from a barney with the authorities, Father Therry worked day and night for his flock, sitting in his presbytery with the breviary in the right hand, and his left delving in and out of his pocket for alms for the endless train of beggars who called upon him.

Whatever difficulty needed settlement, to this open-hearted priest the people came.

One man had a wife who did not show him the respect due to a husband.

He saw no other way of correcting her than to send her to Father Therry, with a note the contents of which were unknown to her. It read:

'Please to impress on the bearer, Mrs. ------------ , the necessity and importance of acquiescing in the will and pleasure of her husband in matters conducive to our mutual good. Excuse this liberty and bother. Your humble servant -----------'

Well, that has brought some smiles to your faces, apart from Sister Feralia.

Some of you have written to me to say that in these days you have to seek approval for everything, that the Church is tightening its authority.

I'm not sure.

I do know that one of my friends recently after Mass went to the Opus Dei Bar and Grill. To his astonishment when he walked in a seal was sitting at the end of the bar,

'Great haircut', said the seal.

The man had a drink, then the critter said, 'Check out the threads—what a suit, and those shoes, man oh man!'

This patter continued, 'You do not look half your age', 'I bet your wife is happy to have you'.

Puzzled, the man turned to the barman who said,

'Don't worry about him—he's our SEAL OF APPROVAL!'

Until next visitation, may you fall into Heaven laughing!

Bishop Laughlin would be thrilled to answer any queries from the leetle children of this congregation that are submitted to him through our forum.

©2006 Clifford Baxter

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