Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity

... and he might've had his fingers crossed when backed into a corner of the pulpit.

When you ask how the politics are in my parish, may I refer you to my rants #5 and #7 in Hedgehog's thread "The conclave and the Sistine chapel - is this the appropiate"

It's just as well I've been absent from church for a long time, because if I'd been present on the day the bishops' letter was read just before the presidential election, I'd have walked out in front of God and everybody, then next week I'd have returned wearing a shirt emblazoned "CATHOLICS FOR OBAMA". That could've resulted in my involuntary expulsion! I might've retaliated by picketing the church. Don't faint or laugh - the previous circuit priest for our little mission was so mean that the last Christmas I was there, he loudly ridiculed my favorite holiday shirt when we were all filing out, and I retaliated by wearing it again the next two Sundays just to stare him down. He was not amused, which was the point. So luckily I've escaped fruitless overheating by this long absence.

Time will come when I return, though. There are some good people at that parish even though they dive under the pews at the first sign of trouble.