A man flops down on a subway seat next to a priest. The
man's tie is stained, his face is smeared with red lipstick,
and a half-empty bottle of gin is sticking out of his
torn coat pocket. He opens a newspaper and begins reading.
After a few minutes the guy turns to the priest and asks, "Say,
Father, what causes arthritis?"
"Loose living; cheap, wicked woman; too much alcohol;
and contempt for your fellow man," answers the priest.
"I'll be damned," the drunk mutters, returning
to his paper.
The priest, thinking about what he said, nudges the man
and apologizes. "I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to
be so harsh. How long have you had arthritis?"
"Oh, I don't have it, Father. It says here that the
Pope does."
|