Another Step on the Long March to Irrelevancy

We suffer a lot in Chicago. We suffer from generally lousy weather. We suffer from corrupt government at every level. This year we're suffering from an incredible season of potholes that just sit there, day after day, week after week, while the mayor pursues his dream of the 2016 Olympics. And, as the Chicago Sun-Times pointed out yesterday, we suffer from an insufferable bishop.

Cardinal Francis George called the University of Notre Dame's decision to invite President Obama to speak at its commencement an "extreme embarrassment" to Catholics.

"It is clear that Notre Dame didn't understand what it means to be Catholic when they issued this invitation," said George, who made his remarks at a conference Sunday hosted by the archdiocese's Respect Life office in Rosemont.

In a video of George's speech posted Wednesday on lifesitenews.com, George calls Notre Dame "the flagship Catholic university," and said that it has "brought extreme embarrassment to many, many people who are Catholic."

Aren't you glad you don't have him for your "spiritual leader"?

While you're talking about your extreme embarassment, Cardinal, maybe you'll want to mention ... oh, what's the point? But everybody knows what I'm talking about, right?

Which reminds me of a joke told on All Things Considered last night (by a Catholic priest!):

You know the one about the ecumenical group who all get food poisoning at a conference, die and go to heaven? God greets them all and says, "Welcome! Now all you Episcopalians, go into Waiting Room 5, but don't look into Room 1. Baptists into Room 4, but avoid Room 1. Methodists into Room 3 but stay away from Room 1. Presbyterians into Room 2, but steer clear of Room 1." And one of the Presbyterians says, "What's in Room 1?" And God says, "Oh, the Catholics. They think they're the only ones up here."

Okay, it's an old joke, but apparently somebody finally told it to the Catholics! I would have added rooms for the Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Atheists, but that would make it a joke about Christians.

The priest told an even better joke, which you can read if you go to the site. I won't tell it here, though, because I plan to tell it at a Seder next week.

Now isn't that nice? I started this post spitting nails, and now I'm chuckling. Cardinal George, I forgive you.