In Angela’s defense, she was giving him five.
I just don’t think he expected it, having extended his hand for a friendly shake.
(The resounding clack! echoed throughout the church.)
Father winced but quickly recovered. Bonus points in heaven for him.
Are there any armchair theologians out there?
I need to know if I should confess this.
Forever on the path to sainthood via these stepping stones of humility,
Only if it is done with malice because of his office: Canon 1370 §3. "A person who uses physical force against a cleric or religious out of contempt for the faith, the Church, ecclesiastical power, or the ministry is to be punished with a just penalty."
Phew! We're off the hook!
I've hit my priest before. LOL Then again, he was giving me a hard time first, and I hit him on the arm and he laughed. So, maybe it won't count against me. Either that, or next time I do a confession, I need to confess to him that I hit him. 😉 LOL
YOU didn't hit him, did you? It's that free will thing. You can only be so responsible for other people's actions, and then it's on them. Besides, she wasn't being mean. She was just being a kid. 🙂
Just to be safe, confess it. You can't go wrong.
The last thing you want is to go to St. Peter and have to explain that one away. Get rid of it now.
Better safe than sorry;)
Yesterday my eldest accidently tripped our priest! I shouted out, "Don't break the priest!" I guess it wasn't a good day for priests across the US yesterday.
A week after we joined our parish, having received three foster children the previous week, our 2-1/2 year old foster son punched the priest square in the stomach (he had been abused, and thought Father was reaching out to strike him). "NO!" the little boy shouted, for full effect.
"Brat," we heard someone mutter behind us. Later we took up our son to explain the situation — and they have been good buddies ever since.
Didn't Jesus say to SUFFER the little children to come unto him?
Heidi
I, too, have hit a priest – we were playing tennis and one of my shots hit him. But since he didn't duck or get his racquet to the ball in time, I guess the blame's on him!
Plus, you didn't hit the priest, so why would you have to confess? Just saying!!!!
Have you never apologized on your child's behalf, Ellen? I'm just taking it one step further!
And of course I'm kidding, though I'm getting huge kick out of these comments.
I've apologize if my son did something he shouldn't have and was too young to understand, but a "high five?" That's just a typical kid thing.
Oh Margaret, I wish I had half the compassion and guilt you did – I know I'd pray much more.