“The Retarded Catholic” copyright 2012 John J. Rigo, upcoming “Passion Amidst Apathy”

 

 

Courtesy of the Deacon’s Bench

He was an independent contractor

He represented himself as a practicing Catholic.

Each Sunday with bowed head he received Communion.

 

Each week he would collect from his customers

payment for placing thousands of flyers

on doors of homes and apartments.

 

At the end of each week

he would dump a third of those flyers

in the local recycle center.

 

His explanation was that by being dishonest

with his customers

was the only way he could

make a profit and care for his family. 

 

It is my guess that he did not fully understand

the ten commandments.

Especially the commandment that said

“Thou Shall Not Steal.”

 

Practicing Catholics consider stealing

of this nature a mortal sin.

With such a sin on one’s soul

disqualifies them from taking Communion.

 

The thief must take Confession for this sin

prior to being able to take Communion.

The forgiveness was given with the words

“Go and sin no more.”

This individual repeated the same sin

week after week for fourteen years.

 

The sin was one

he rarely shared with a  priest

on a regular weekly confession.

In fact he rarely went to confession.

 

Yet each week he could be found

with head bent in prayer

after receiving that sacred host in communion.

 

You ask me how I was so aware

of this regular affront of God’s law.

You see the man observed

was my own Brother.

 

I am proud to say

that by his own example

it has now been

forty-nine years

since I have been a Catholic.

 

 

 

  

 

 

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