The Cardinal Page #2

I specialized in ecclesiastical history...

the Reformation period, what led up to it...

which meant learning German,

as well as Italian, of course.

German, as well as Italian, huh?

Yes, in fact, I've been working on a book

about the causes of the Reformation...

and the Council of Trent

and the Counter Reformation.

Council of Trent?

I feel that the churchmen at the time...

were late in recognizing

both the growth of nationalism...

and the development of scientific thought,

and that hastened the Reformation.

That's the thing that did it, was it?

Of course, nothing is ever quite

that simple or straightforward, but...

I disagree, Father.

Let me give you an example.

The year is 1917,

and this is the city of Boston.

Boston, not Rome.

You understand the difference.

That is the church of St. John's...

and you are the new curate here.

All simple, straightforward facts,

are they not?

Yes, Monsignor.

I don't suppose during

the course of your elegant education...

you ever drove a milk wagon.

- No.

- I did, as a lad...

and I learned how to tell

a good milk-wagon horse 10 blocks away.

You get my meaning, Father?

She's a milk-wagon horse I'll be wanting

for a curate, Father.

We don't need any racehorses

at St. John's.

The Monsignor...

quite a man, isn't he?

Yes, he is quite a manager.

They don't call him

"Dollar Bill" Monaghan for nothing.

You'll not find the likes of him in Rome.

So, which is it that you want to be...

a historian or a diplomat,

like your Roman friend...

Bishop Quarenghi.

Or a good priest, like Bill Monaghan?

Both.

But if you had to make a choice

between the two?

A good priest.

The very best priest in all the world?

The best priest in the world.

And how do you expect to be that...

when already you are committing

the sin of pride even to think it?

Frank, will you stop that noise?

Don't you get enough of that...

playing in those Scully Square

movie parlors...

till the Lord knows what hour of the night?

Don't worry about me, Dad.

I get plenty of sleep during the day.

Steve, listen to this. It's a new one.

Dinner's ready.

Shouldn't we wait for Mona?

She's due back from the library

any minute.

The library?

Is that where she told you she was going?

What you do mean by that, Florrie?

I mean, she is more likely out

with lkie Rampbell.

His name's not lkie, it's Benny.

What's the difference?

There are enough Catholic boys

in this parish...

without you having to run around

with a rag-picking Jew.

He's not a ragpicker.

He is studying to be a dentist

He's still a Jew.

I'm sick and tired of having to do

all the work around here...

while she is out with

that sheeny boyfriend of hers.

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