almsgiving IV

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Jul 09, 2004

Suppose you're a very well respected priest of a rapidly growing archdiocese. You hold honorary doctorates from three colleges, served as chaplain of the state association of police chiefs for 20 years, have served as a member of the executive committee of your city's Boy Scouts, and have received the outstanding alumnus award from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg. Ordained in 1949, you're a monsignor, a protonotary apostolic, and pastor of a large parish (perhaps the only parish in the nation where you could have attended a yoga class, and a tai chi class, and an adult ninja class yesterday). You knew Cardinal Bernardin when he was a deacon and have described him as a "man's man." (Every man's man, of course, wants the Windy City Gay Chorus to sing at his wake.) At the age of 75, when most priests are put out to pasture, the archbishop named you vicar general for pastoral services and praised you as "politically astute."

Politically astute, you wish to become more involved in politics. You have $250 in your pocket and are inspired to give it away. To whom, or what, do you direct your alms?

(a) to a pro-life political action committee (b) to a local pro-life politician, whether Democrat or Republican (c) to Richard Gephardt, a consistent supporter of abortion for the past 15 years

If you're Msgr. R. Donald Kiernan, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, your answer is (c).