"This exploitation of the weak is gravely sinful"

Cool!

So what does all this have to do with the Saint Mary Magdalene Parish Finance Committee?

And a hypothetical for instance of an over - due tab $$$ at our local hardware store??

While this quote is right out of the current issue [April 2008] of the Homiletic & Pastoral Review, in an article titled "Pornography, electronic media and priestly formation," by one Marysia Weber, where she cites a pastoral letter from one Bishop Paul Loverde of Arlington, Va., the statement itself might just as wll apply to a leading Hardware Emporium deep in the heart of downtown, metropolitan Brackettville, Texas!

The preliminary account of what appears to be a particularly mean - spirited attempt to rip - off an honest local business is still pretty sketchy, but here goes:

1) It seems a certain pastor with a real - deal turn around collar makes a vague offer -- using fractured English! -- to "help" some sincere, hardworking folks 'way over to the eastern part of Kinney County make some essential Catholic church repairs on their mission church, a church that at least in theory, belongs as much to Archbishop José Gomez as does SMM itself.

2) So, thinking they have the answer to a prayer -- that his word on anything is worth the proverbial "zip" -- these good folks trek down to the hardware store over on Spring Street someplace, and tell the dedicated, hard - working owner what materials they'll need.

3) The hardworking owner generously elects to let them fill their material requests, subject to future payment.

4) As of yesterday, Saturday, April 4, 2008, around 1100 hours, the hardware store's invoices were as yet -- you guessed it! -- unpaid.

So, wanna bet what they're about to hear, if they haven't heard it already?

"Me Catholic Priest!

Me no look'em,

find'em invoices...etc..."


"Me Catholic priest!

"Me no look'em findum!

"Much less pay'um!

"Invoices!

"Hardware store!

"You go!

"Look'em, find'em!

"You pay'em!"

Blogatorial note:

Well ... I suppose it could be that our Finance Committe has already made good on what is -- potentially at least -- a really nasty case of tranza, if so, thanks a bunch, guys!!