.... I had an interesting weekend for sure.

I do weddings... lots of weddings. Last summer, I performed about 100 or so weddings. I enjoy it a great deal.

Anyway, last fall, I was approached by a woman who was attending my parish about my doing her wedding. So she, her fiancee, and I sat down last November - and the conversation went something like this...

"My father is really looking forward to meeting and talking with you..." She then proceeded to tell me who he is. My immediate reaction was "He does know we are not ROMAN Catholic right?" and she says, "oh yes, he does. He read some of your homilies on your website, and really is looking forward to meeting you."

Gulp.

So this very wonderful woman who has me doing her wedding is the daughter of what any conservative Catholic in the US considers the lighthouse for conservative Catholicism. He is a Theologian, sits on the board of Ava Maria University, and has written dozens of books, (and the only pro-Iraw war view using the church and the bible to justify it!) He has received awards from popes, PM Margaret Thatcher- the list goes on. And of course, any liberal catholic worth his salt knows the name, and it's utterance gives you the hibbily jibbilies.

So, the wedding was Saturday. Now, I don't normally go to receptions when invited (I only went to two of them all last year) but I had to attend this one. I sat with the theologian & his wife, the president of the most conservative think-tank in the US, the same think-tanks editor in chief of their magazine, and the editorial page editor for a NY daily newspaper.

The first conversation I am welcomed into when I arrive at the reception is a woman who was in the Regan Administration and two film producers, who just did a nine hour documentary on immigration. The Reganaut says, "We need to build a 40 foot high cement wall on the border, hunt down every illegal mexican, and toss them back over the wall."

After the stun wore off, the producer looked at me and said, "Archbishop, the church has long been involved in the immigration issue- what do you think." So I said, "Well it's complex, but I think that those people who want to end immigration and chase those here away are the same people who will complain when they pay $200 a week to have their lawn mowed." Another stunned look, and I said, "excuse me, I need to go to the bar..."

And I consumed alot of red wine.. A LOT. At one point I was sure they would lock the doors to the reception room and have a "lynch the liberal party" and I was the lynchee. Afterall, the Assistant Sec'y of Homeland Security was there - so they could get away with it.

It was overall a great time- and in the end, the neo-conservative theologian shook my hand, asked me to stay in touch so we could have dinner, and if there was anything he could ever do for me to please call him. I asked him if he was going to see the Holy Father (I threw up a bit in my mouth when I said those words aloud) and he said, "Oh yes, I am having dinner with him at the Vatican Embassy." so I asked him to give Benedict my "every best wish for a successful trip- and happy birthday (Benny will be here on his 81st B-day.)

Then I had more wine on the way out.

Just goes to show you - when love is involved.. ya know, the love Jesus spoke of that most of those people forgot, is involved - ANYTHING is possible.