Parents know that their children are not perfect little angels, but we sure would like to believe it.  I know that my kids have done their share of mischief, but all in all they have been the most obedient children I could have ever hoped and prayed for.

Once when Nathan (the youngest) was in fifth grade, his teacher, Mrs. Jones, called us in for a parent teacher conference.  I knew Nathan to be quite the prankster and noted for getting into more than his fair share of trouble.  I thought to myself, "I am ready ... let me have it ... what did he do?"  The teacher proceeded to inform us that Nathan offended a little girl in his class.  "Oh, dear god, what did he do?", I thought to myself.

"How did he offend her?", I asked the teacher, not really knowing what she was going to utter.

"Well, [the girl's name escapes me] asked Nathan if he would like a stick of chewing gum, and Nathan said to her, 'Is the Pope Catholic?'"

My mouth dropped in utter disbelief.  My shock then exploded out of my mouth to the teacher sitting across from me. 

"What the heck is wrong with that?" I asked.

"The girl was offended because she is Catholic", stated Mrs. Jones.

"Nathan was not being disrespectful. Nor was he attempting to mock or make fun of the girl's religion.  He was giving a response to the girl's question, but in a definitive way."

"Let me ask you this question, Mrs. Jones.  Is the Pope Catholic?  What do you say? How do do answer that?"

"Well, I say, yes".

"I suppose that a person can actually say that you can't get to be anymore Catholic than the Pope.  But that is not degrading, mocking, ridiculing Catholicism at all.  Do you think?"

"Well ... err ... I ...", she stammered.

"Exactly!  He was merely showing an emphatic response to her question. I do not think that this matter was worthy of as much attention as you have given it, and further, that you, have blown it way out of proportion".

As I left the meeting with the teacher, I thought to myself, "I am sure glad that he didn't say something, like 'Does a bear ______ in the woods?'"