[Magdalen] More Clergy DWI

[Grace Cangialosi]

I have a video copy of the Disney movie "Pete's Dragon," which I wanted to share with my grandchildren when they were little. When I watched it again to make sure it was OK, I realized it wasn't on several levels, including the "funny drunk" character played by Mickey Rooney. (no surprise there!)

But then there was also the awful hillbilly stereotype of Pete's adopted family--who had bought him and had a bill of sale to prove it.

In the end I realized that Linda Ronstadt and the song "Candle on the Water" were the only redeeming features, and I've never watched it again.

But I confess that when It came out and I first saw it, I thought it was charming. That was before I'd lived in the mountains and before I'd fully acknowledged the alcoholism in my own family.

> On Mar 17, 2015, at 9:58 AM, Lynn Ronkainen <houstonklr at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I too have ceased to find humor in jokes about *anything* alcohol 
> 
> Lynn
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Mar 17, 2015, at 8:45 AM, ME Michaud <michaudme at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> In the town I grew up in, population about 14,000, there were two
> Episcopal churches, St. John's and Christ Church. Both were
> located downtown (farms began at the outskirts, no suburbs
> then). St. John's was founded before the American Revolution,
> then abandoned, then re-formed as an American church (not
> Church of England).
> 
> In nineteenth century, St. John's established Christ Church as
> a mission. It was a gorgeous building (the whole town turned
> out when it burned down in the late fifties/early sixties; my
> mother took me along with her, saddest thing I've ever seen).
> Christ Church was built next to the factories, which, by then
> stood between the town and farmland. St. John's remained
> low church, but Christ Church was very high and served by
> clergy who were Oxford Movement all the way, called to
> work among the poor. I am struggling to remember the name
> of the rector, the only person I ever saw wearing a cassock
> on the street, who, with the rabbi, shared the distinction of
> being the most beloved men in town.
> 
> Now, about alcohol abuse in our particular branch of the
> church, you've already read my rants about it, so I shall
> not rant again. However ... the next time I hear the word
> "whiskeypalian" I'll put on my disapproving grandmother
> face. And the next time I hear that awful joke that ends
> in "there's a fifth," I'll speak out. People stop telling jokes
> when they get the clue that they're no longer funny.
> 
> My own experience is that alcoholics tend to find each
> other this way. There's a code spoken that attracts them
> and keeps them hoping. Alcoholism is a lonely life, and
> finding like-minded folk who will practice along with you
> and will include you must bring delight.
> -M
> 
> 
>> On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 3:38 AM, <sally.davies at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Similar story here. The parishes that minister to and are located in the
>> poor areas are much more likely to be "high church" than those that
>> minister in upper class areas.
>>