When I was a child in an altogether earlier era
I was impressed by a fable of a fisherman who
caught a fish that was really an enchanted prince
who promised the fisherman a magic wish if he
spared his life. The fisherman said he would like
to be an emperor and his wish was granted but he
reconsidered and said he would prefer to be the pope.
The fish refused and withdrew his offer. I was not
a Catholic child and wondered what the fuss was about.
Now I know and it is clear to me that Canada's
prime minister, a none-too-devout Catholic knew
nothing of that fable. He portrays himself as the
emperor of the country but it seems he really resents
lack of access to that higher sacred post. When the
Pope arrived in Canada on a mission it offered
the prime minister, a man of decidedly loose morals
the opportunity to lecture the Pontiff on the most
regrettable failings of the Church, to be rectified.
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