Quotable & notable

National Catholic Reporter, June 4, 2004

"As a priest and bishop, I do not favor a confrontation at the altar rail with the Sacred Body of the Lord Jesus in my hand. There are apparently those who would welcome such a conflict, for good reasons, I am sure, or for political ones, but I would not."

--Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington

"There is little grace to be found in disputes over who is more barbarous than whom."

--Editorial titled "Atrocities, barbarism and outrage" in the Seattle diocese newspaper, The Catholic Northwest Progress

John Kerry sneaks own wafers into Communion

--Headline from the "All the News that Isn't" by Michael Feldman on Public Radio International

"Who would have thought that a story involving the face that launched a thousand ships would devote more attention to Achilles' butt than his heel?"

--Nickey Hernandez, movie critic for The Vail (Colo.) Trail, commenting on the summer blockbuster "Troy"

"I can tell you some great stories about God healing cars. Sometimes, you just pray for a revelation. "

--Mechanic Craig Brandenburg, who works in a car repair shop in Bothell, Wash