Gianni Poggio, an elderly Italian man who lives on the
outskirts of Positano, Italy, recently went to the local church for
confession.
When the priest slid open the panel in the confessional, the man said:
"Father, during World War II, a beautiful Jewish woman from our
neighborhood knocked urgently on my door and asked me to hide her from the
Nazis. So I hid her in my attic."
The priest replied: "That was a wonderful thing you did, and
you have no need to confess that."
"There is more to tell, Father. She started to repay me with sexual favors.
This happened several times a week, and sometimes twice on Sundays."
The priest said, "That was a long time ago and by doing what
you did, you placed the two of you in great danger, but two people under
those circumstances can easily succumb to the weakness of the flesh.
However, if you are truly sorry for your actions, you are indeed forgiven."
"Thank you, Father. That's a great load off my mind. I do have one more
question though ..."
"And what is that?" asked the priest.
"Should I tell her the war is over?''
Those who wish to reap the blessings of freedom must, as men, endure the fatigue of defending it.
Thomas Paine.