THE FIRST CONFESSIONAL
A noted Washington monsignor, beloved by his parishioners, was to be the guest of honor at a Washington banquet. A prominent politician was to serve as chairman of the affair, but had been unavoidably detained. The toastmaster proceeded without him. Honor after honor was heaped upon the deserving churchman, and finally he arose to accept their tributes. “The seal of the confessional,” he said, “can never be broken, and therefore I can only hint of my impressions when I came to Washington some 25 years ago. Oh, I thought I had wandered into a terrible place. The first man who entered the confessional told me a hair-raising tale of his graft and corruption, but as the days went on I knew I’d entered a fine community of lovely people and it has indeed been an honor to have been among you for all these fine years.” Just then the delayed chairman arrived and rushed to the dais to make the…
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