⚓ The Bishop Turned 74 / January 2023
© 2023, Leonard Earl Johnson / All Rights Reserved
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LEJ's Louisiana
January 2023
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The Bishop Turned 74
Roman à clef, cher!
by Leonard Earl Johnson
by Leonard Earl Johnson
of Lafayette and New Orleans, Louisiana
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LEJ's Louisiana
© 2023, Leonard Earl Johnson, All Rights Reserved
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The Bishop of Lafayette does not seem too old for his job ~ given that slim Democrat, Joe Biden is President of the United States at age 80; and The Donald (his obese Republican nemesis and endless pretender to the same throne) is over 78.
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Still, retirement is required of Catholic Bishops at 75, and The Bishop has just turned 74.
Hildegarde Bottlebrush added, "Cardinals are disallowed their vote for Pope after reaching 80."
She pushed her wine glass toward an approaching server, who turned out to be Sylvia, one of the Cathedral's newest congregants, recently decamped to Lafayette off the passing campaign train of Red Women Warriors for The Donald, with her buddy, Dillard.
The Rectory's formal dining hall glittered with The Bishop's birthday dinner, and the word, "retirement" was often spoken.
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The Rector was host of the evening, and took the podium to present The Bishop with a gift: "In our day of seas rising and skies fall ..." His words were not much heard by The Bishop, nor the assembled Cloth and their lay guests. Most were busy sizing up each other for the Bishop's seat opening soon.
The Rector presented The Bishop with his gift. The Bishop held it up for all to see. It was a small porcelain rocking chair inscribed with the initials: JFK, in gold leaf.
Everyone knows the story of The Bishop's boyhood presence in Dealey Plaza that November day in 1963 ~ Just before Thanksgiving ~ when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. And everyone knows of The Bishop's treasured collection of JFK memorabilia.
Everyone also knows that everyone present this night wants to be in that number behind the curtain knowing before all others the name of the new bishop; even possibly helping to choose him.
None actually wants the title. Except one big bearded Maurice duQuesnay, a University of Louisiana language Professor with a specialty in Hebrew and a dog named Saluki.
"Behind-the-curtain-power!
"That is the real power in any organization on Earth," Hildegard Bottlebrush
remarks to Balthazar. Adding, "Perhaps even beyond."
All are dressed in what might be called casual formal. Hildegarde is in red sequins that glitter back at the candles on all the tables in the room. Baltazar wears a blue tuxedo, with waistcoat and antique studs made of gold and mother of pearl. His cuff links are actual little chain-links of gold attached to gold framed mother of pearl buttons. No tie and, of course, white fisherman boots adorned with colored plastic jewels.
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Outgoing bishops, neighboring bishops, the apostolic nuncio, various members of the Roman Curia, and The Pope (Bishop of Rome) all play a role in the selection of new bishops. As do certain lay members of the flock, unofficially.
One of the concurring bishops, along with The Pope, must be an archbishop and act as chairman of the selection committee.
In this case, The Archbishop of New Orleans will fill the bill poetically. In Big Swamp City, On the marble plaque of the Basilica of Saint Louis King of France is a long list of rectors of this oldest cathedral in North America. One of whom was Maurice duQuesnay, 1770 to 1776. He is an antecedent to today's Maurice duQuesnay, the layman who would be usurper of the Bishopric of the Diocese of Lafayette, and currently the bicycle riding, longest serving faculty member at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, U. La. La.
Maurice duQuesnay, the latter, is no longer Catholic, but he would like to be bishop anyway. He figures since he was born Catholic and attended
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| ♗The Man who would be Bishop♗ |
"Rabbi" duQuesnay, as he has come to be known, elevated to Catholic Bishop du Quesnay!?
An idea on its surface ludicrous.
But not to Maurice duQuesnay, who points out, "The oneness" of today's ecumenical movement, his own Catholic lineage and, "No requirement of church membership existed for any of the founders of The Faith, including Jesus, Himself."
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Dillard, a new member of the Cathedral Ladies Sodality Service, approached duQuesnay's table and sat a slice of devil's-food cake before him. Alongside she laid a sticker reading: "Turn Back Voter Turnout," and her phone number.
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| The "Bishop" and his Maidens Photo credit Hanson Trahan |
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| © Leonard Earl Johnson |
 If you wish to read any month's column go to www.LEJ.world anytime. They are posted on the first of each month and polished for the next few years.~ ~ ~ LEJ's Louisiana, Yours Truly in a Swamp is a monthly e-column @ www.LEJ.world, Hosted by GOOGLE BLOGGER, and historically at Les Amis de Marigny, New Orleans publication of the It is written by Leonard Earl Johnson of Lafayette and New Orleans, Louisiana |
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© 2023, Leonard Earl Johnson, All Rights Reserved
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