July 21, 2005

Bishop talks faith over ale

By GREGORY BROWN
Staff Writer
WATERVILLE (ME)
Morning Sentinel

WATERVILLE -- With sex out of the way the conversation tacked towards religion last night at Steve's restaurant.

During the second of three "Theology on Tap" sessions Bishop Richard Malone of the Portland Diocese entertained a group of roughly 70 Catholics all between 18 and 40 and all seeking answers about the actual faith they follow.

Between hauls of glasses filled with ale and lager, individuals approached the bishop, introduced themselves and later let loose. ...

During his address, Malone quoted author James Joyce to describe the sheer magnitude of the church, referenced Flannery O'Connor's words to describe how the world looks through a Catholic lens, and turned to the dissents of Sigmund Freud to explain the instances of sexual abuse by priests that have rocked the church recently.

"I don't often quote Freud," Malone joked. "But I believe something he said holds true in regards to the horrible acts within the church: that every man, under the right circumstances, can do anything."


Posted by kshaw at July 21, 2005 06:38 AM