March 13, 2005

'Not to be trusted '

UNITED STATES
The Dallas Morning News

11:05 AM CST on Saturday, March 12, 2005

As a priest today, the Rev. Joseph F. Wilson says he is constantly on guard - and furious with the Church that has made him live this way.

The fellow turned the corner, asking, "Sammy, you done?" Then, seeing me standing there at the sink – rather, seeing my clerical collar – he stiffened. I had barely noticed the 8-year-old boy who was standing four sinks down from me in the Delta Shuttle men's room at LaGuardia Airport.

Pointedly, emphatically, the man said, "Sammy, is everything OK ?" Just a small incident. The boy probably did not even realize its significance, having paid less attention to me than I to him. But, of course, I understood. And Sammy's father understood. In his eyes, I am of a class of people not to be trusted, especially by the fathers of little boys.

I am a Catholic priest.

Posted by kshaw at March 13, 2005 04:31 PM