Joke, where is thy sting?

Here is an old joke I like:

During a recent ecumenical gathering, a secretary rushed in shouting, "The building is on fire!"

The METHODISTS gathered in a corner and prayed.

The BAPTISTS cried, "Where's the water?"

The QUAKERS quietly praised God for the blessings that fire brings.

The LUTHERANS posted a notice on the door declaring the fire was evil.

The ROMAN CATHOLICS passed the plate to cover the damage.

The JEWS posted symbols on the door, hoping that the fire would pass.

The CONGREGATIONALISTS shouted, "Every man for himself!"

The FUNDAMENTALISTS proclaimed, "It's the vengeance of God!"

The EPISCOPALIANS formed a procession and marched out.

The CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS concluded that there was not a fire.

The PRESBYTERIANS appointed a chairperson who was to appoint a committee to look into the matter and make a written report.

Then the secretary grabbed the fire extinguisher and put out the fire.

Marriage, Sex and God

John Mallon has recently posted an old article of his. I first read it about eleven years ago. It is beautiful. Good work, John.

Clarification on Comments

Regarding my post below: I meant only that comments about whether Catholic church teaching is right or wrong would be deleted, because that is not my aim for this site. There are plenty of other sites for this purpose. However, you may post comments that disagree with what I say - even about church teaching.

I am not afraid.

Bring it on.

Pope Can't Sin?

I just read one of those anti-Catholic web pages and the ignorance shown would be laughable, if it wasn't so serious. Apparently they think "infallible" means "not able to sin". They think the teaching that the Pope is infallible when he teaches Ex Cathedra on an issue of faith or morals means he can't sin. What it means is that what he says must be accepted as truth by those in the Church, not that he can't sin. An example of this is that the Pope may say Ex Cathedra that lying is a sin. This must be accepted. Then later he may tell a lie (let's hope not) . That does not mean that his pronouncement saying lying is a sin was wrong. It means that he (as a private indivdual) is wrong (because he sinned by lying). The pronouncement is ever just, not the person.

I'm not going to explain Church teaching in this blog. I am not an Apologist for the Church. This is not my job. So, please don't post comments on what you think of Church teaching. They will be deleted. I was just amazed that after all this time, people still don't know Catholic Church teaching, even when they read it. They even had a book written by a guy who used to be Catholic. I am not surprised. There are plenty of Catholics-even priests-who don't understand. Why? That is something I don't understand. I have seen too many people teaching in the Catholic Church who didn't know what they were talking about. So again, I am not surprised that someone outside the church misunderstands.

Anyway, my point is-if you're going to disagree with Church teaching, at least be sure you know what the church actually teaches.

23 Ways To Identify A Faithful Parish

Thanks to Ragemonkey (see links) for pointing out this witty list on identifying faithful parishes. Unfortunately I have seen the opposite in a few of the parishes in my diocese.