"Is Jesus Mainstream Enough?"

Jeff Miller at The Curt Jester has written this parody for Spero News.

JERUSALEM (Canaan News Network CNN) In the last few months there has been increasing speculation on a relatively fast rising Rabbi from Nazareth as to whether he is the one we have been waiting for...

...Many people regardless of their political parties consider that Jesus is just too far out of the mainstream. That his ideas about forgiveness and loving even your enemies are just to radical to be taken seriously as a candidate for being the Messiah. Public opinion polls show this split among the people that while they might admire some aspects about Jesus they are uncomfortable with the whole package. (Full Article)

While you're waiting for that white smoke, you can also check out the Pope-U-Lator to predict who will be the next Pope and what name he will choose. All in good fun, of course. Particularly interesting are the Papal Name Stats. Among the less likely possibilities are John Paul III (JPIII, we love thee?) and Sixtus VI (try saying that ten times fast). Fr. Dave predicts "Karol Mary" though that seems about as likely as "JPIII" and I can just see the uproar when "Carol Mary" is proclaimed as the first woman Pope. Peter, Franciscan that he is, predicts "Maximilian Mary" after St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe. Currently at the top of the Pope-U-Lator's list is Benedict XVI, which would make some monks I know very happy.

I'll leave you for now with Peggy Noonan's lastest column, a fascinating look into the mind of a fictitious Cardinal of the Catholic Church:

"If that is true," said the cardinal from Asia, "It would seem our duty is to choose a great man who is not necessarily a dramatic or endearing figure. The Holy Spirit will give him voice. Our time will need greatness. 'For nowadays the world is lit by lightning.' " Full Article

Veni, sancte Spiritus...