The Chicks just returned from a lecture by Cardinal Walter Kasper- a friend of Joseph Ratzinger, an accomplished theologian, and a man dedicated to ecumenical dialogue with non-Catholics worldwide.  His talk entitled “The Timeliness of Speaking of God” was brilliant, I think.  I say that because, quite frankly, Chick A and I admitted to only understanding about 40% of what he said.  Laced with a heavy German accent, some of the words were hard to decipher.  In fact, it was only after 15 minutes into his remarks that I could begin to understand some of the main points of the lecture.  (Pope Benedict, if you are reading this, thank you for speaking slowly when delivering your messages.  I probably understand about 95% of what you are saying).

Sponsored by the Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory University and Candler School of Theology, a Methodist-founded seminary, the Kasper event was sold out.  The Aquinas Center recently hosted an astronomer from the Vatican speaking on the relationship of faith and reason, and they are soon to host a program on Latino immigration and its effect on our church populations.  Who knows whether the Vatican astronomer was hard to understand…..I wasn’t there.  I can tell you with certainty, though, that it is a great feeling to be Catholic and a member of the universal Church that is being led by astute, compassionate, accent-laden leaders like Cardinal Kasper.

Prost!!

Chick B