Holy things ... and other things

Anyone remember Father Duddleswell? He was one of the characters on a British comedy show known as 'Bless Me Father'. Some of the episodes still air from time to time.

Bless Me Father was set in another era, a time when the Church was viewed very differently than it is today, a much simpler time when priests (and other people too) spent time sitting around tables, talking to one another, enjoying bevrages, and far away from the influence of television and computers.

If Father Duddleswell lived in today's world, I'm not sure that he would be the most proficient at computer and internet communication. He may have the television playing off in the background, but he would still be the man of wisdom (perhaps just a bit crusty) who would always know the things that are currently going on in the world and how to relate the wisdom of the ages to the situations of modern day.

He would somehow find out what he could about the Synod of Bishops for Africa, currently happening in Rome, he might have glanced at the working document and the study notes published even before the beginning of the deliberations. No doubt he would sum them both up in classic British style, complete with some quip about how much wordsmitthing had been involved and wondering about what the ultimate outcome of such mind bending would result in.

Most probably, he would ask his faithful curate, Father Neil Boyd, to keep up with the daily interventions being provided by various delegates, not because he truly was interested in how the Church is still relevant in such a far-off land, but secretly because he truly cared about how the message of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation would continue to be preached, and how the people's response, commonly referred to as faith would continue to influence even other cultures throughout the world.

For his part, perhaps Father Boyd would be more interested in running away to the local Silver City to enjoy the newly released Couples Retreat, a romantic comedy which tries very hard to make its audience laugh. Unfortuntately, Bless Me Father had much more success than Couples Retreat ever will, so perhaps Father Boyd would be better off waiting for the release of Sherlock Holmes (due out at Christmas time).