A drunk man who smelled like beer
sat down on a subway seat next to a
priest. The man's tie was stained, his
face was plastered with red
lipstick, and a half-empty bottle of gin
was sticking out of his torn coat pocket. He opened his
newspaper and began reading.
After a few minutes the man turned to
the priest and asked, "Say,
Father, what causes arthritis?"
"My Son, it's caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women,
too much alcohol and a contempt for
your fellow man," the priest said.
"Well, I'll be damned," the drunk
muttered, returning to his paper.
The priest, thinking about what he had said, nudged the man and
apologized. "I'm very sorry. I didn't
mean to come on so strong. How
long have you had arthritis?"
"I don't have it, Father. I was just
reading here that the Pope does," the man said.