The Pope's Mother-in-Law

When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. Matthew 8:14, NIV

Now, in no way am I saying that Peter was a pope, first or otherwise. But there is a giant organization that declares that this is true.

I just received an e-mail from a dear lady and close friend, saying that, as a chaperone to a group of Catholic school girls, she was standing in St. Peter's Square. I was not one bit impressed. Not favorably, that is. A chaperone is supposed to keep her charges out of trouble. If St. Peter's Square is a big deal to you, you're in deep trouble already.

The Roman Catholic Church not only claims that the body of Peter is buried in the Vatican, but that Peter was Pope #1. They are faced with the problem that their first pope was married. I am not certain how they handle this. Maybe it is that he was made first pope while he was married and was too kind to leave his wife, or that later popes were improved models, as more rules were adopted?

I mention these things to show how a great Christian--though not the head of the church--has been elevated to this absurd position, which he never would have allowed in his lifetime.