I received a phone call just now from a representative of the Roman Pontiff.
He insists I repent, threatening to re-impose an interdict that has already been burdening yours truly for two years.
I refuse to repent. Therefore, the interdict has been renewed.
There is frustration all around, except for me. I’m happy to be under interdict.
This happens every year at this time, the first Saturday of November. Nevertheless, it caught me off guard this year. I guess I’m used to being under interdict.
You have to know that one of the greatest canonists of the Holy See (truly) has renewed the decree he himself wrote.
This involves my nefarious activities at the Pontifical College Josephinum, where philosophers understood my predilection for FAITHBYTHESWORD (doesn’t sound very politically correct, does it?), but the theologians and faculty and administration did not. The result? Against all the protestations of the philosophers, I was put under interdict by the Holy See.
Scandal! Scandal! Scandal! For the full story, follow the categories, tags and links and sub-links and sub-sub-links of this post on this very HSH blog: What a fright!
Accompany me, Father George David Byers, S.S.L., S.T.D., as I begin life as a Catholic Priest-Hermit by choice. Holy Souls Hermitage is dedicated to the sanctification of my fellow priests, bishops, deacons & seminarians going through the purgatory of this life or the next. Prayer and sacrifice go up, of course, for both Benedict XVI and the next Successor of Saint Peter. 
Doesn’t this freak you out!?
Carolyn: Not to worry. I know the wonderful canonist in Rome. He’s a friend! This is all humor. The Vatican was taking sides with the theologate over the philosophy house in a football game at the seminary. I think it’s great fun all around.
I forgot! Happy Interdict Day!!!!!!!!!!!! By the way do you know who won this years Mud Bowl?
Not yet! I’m wondering if that means that the Philosophers won… again…
Theology won again this year. Sorry for not updating you about the game; I am marinating in Tylenol right now after being on the defensive line for the game. I got a couple of sacks again this year, something I would have done in your honor. Alas I cannot honor someone who is under Interdict. I think the final score was 25 – 19 theology!!!
That’s what I like about you, Father, You wry sense of humor. I read three posts to find out it was a joke! You made me look! You got me again!. Good job.
Brian: Tylenol is the worst thing you can have. Ibuprofin is the thing. Since Theology only won because Philosophy surely has gratuated into Theology, I might have to reconsider repentance!
It’s good to know Father, that in these dark and trying times, that one can still go on with a sensible and decent bit of humour.
God Bless.