Will some qualified psychiatrist, psychologist, sociologist, or stand-up comic please explain:

1) Why is it that when a Catholic bishop comes to your parish, he invariably finds it necessary to begin his homily with a joke— in most cases, a lame, old joke?

Is it because he wants to lighten the atmosphere, lest we all be overawed by his presence? (Trust my, Your Excellency, that’s not our problem.) Or does he actually want to be undignified?

2) Why do so many parishioners laugh at the stupid jokes? Is it because they’re so embarrassed for him, and laughing feels better than cringing? Or are they please to see that, against all expectations, a bishop can act like a human being— in this case, like that uncle who reels off puns at Thanksgiving dinner, to the delight of nobody but himself.

Come to think of it, maybe a bishop could answer these questions. You might ask him, the next time he comes to your parish. No doubt the questions would make him uncomfortable. But then you’d be even.