*sigh*

I have joined a community read of Cry, the Beloved Country. If you aren't familiar with this book, it is a story of South Africa during the formative years of apartheid. We are doing this in conjunction with the local high school's senior English class.

So on the first day of this endeavor, a gentleman who used to attend my parish showed up to be part of it. He decided that he could not attend our church as long as we were allowing gays to be priests and bishops (and he probably wouldn't attend if we actually allowed "those people" to be part of the congregation). But, whatever, his choice.

"Hello," I said politely. "How have you been?"

To which he responded (and no, I am not making this up):

"You know, I'd come back to your church if they got their act together up there. If they just shot that bishop who is causing all the problems, that would solve everything."

The conversation didn't get any better from there, and I finally told him, "This conversation is over," and walked away.

The book group should be interesting.