. . . as said of “several” priests cited bafflingly by Sun-Timeswoman Hogan-slash-Albach:

What’s so “perplexing” about what the cardinal said? Isn’t it more perplexing that Pfleger used “snuff” and didn’t know what it meant on the street? Yeah, very, very, VERY strange. Now we’re gonna make the NRA the bad guys?

says a faithful reader.  Another, however, is not convinced:

i believe that he didn’t know what “snuff” means.. i think he used it in a way that indicates that…  you know he doesn’t want to kill anyone… he’s eccentric but not amoral.

I, on the other hand, am baffled by that comment.  What Father P. is or isn’t is not at issue, but what he said and what he believed about what he said.  Deep mystery here — not Trinity-doctrine-deep but still deep — as to why a holy priest of God would talk that way.  But let us leave it at that and not rush to judgment in either direction.

Meanwhile, the perhaps also baffled Cardinal George issues A STATEMENT!  Thank God for statements, which get things finally before the public and substitute, no matter how lamely, for face-to-face meeting and confident exercise of episcopal authority.

Again, however, credit Sun-Times, which broke the sacred noosepaper silence in the matter, while Chi Trib remains haughtily above the fray, unwilling to get its hands soiled.  Aren’t they sweet?