> >> > Shortly after the Pope had apologized to the Jewish People for
> >> > the
> >>treatment
> >> > of Jews by the Catholic Church over the years Ariel Sharon, the
> >> > Prime Minister of Israel, sent a proposal to the College of
> >> > Cardinals for a
> >>friendly
> >> > game of golf to be played between the two leaders or their
> >>representatives to
> >> > demonstrate the friendship and ecumenical spirit shared by the
> >> > Catholics and the Jews.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > The Pope then met with his College of Cardinals to discuss the
> >>proposal.
> >> >
> >> > "Your Holiness," said one of the Cardinals, "Mr. Sharon wants to
> >>challenge you
> >> > to a game of golf to show that you are old and unable to compete.
> >> > I am afraid that this would tarnish our image in the world."
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > The Pope thought about this and since he had never held a golf
> >> > club
in
> >>his
> >> > life asked "Don't we have a Cardinal to represent me?"
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "None who plays golf very well," a Cardinal replied. "But," he
> >> > added,
> >>"There
> >> > is a man named Jack Nicklaus, an American golfer, who is a devout
> >> > Catholic.
> >> >
> >> > We can offer to make him a Cardinal, and then ask him to play Mr.
> >>Sharon as
> >> > your personal representative. In addition to showing our spirit
> >> > of cooperation, we will also win the match."
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Everyone agreed that this was a great idea. The call was made. Of
> >>course,
> >> > Nicklaus was honoured and he agreed to play as a representative
> >> > of
the
> >>Pope.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > The day after the match, Nicklaus reported to the Vatican to
> >> > inform
the
> >>Pope
> >> > of the result. "This is Cardinal Nicklaus.. I have some good news
> >> > and some bad news, Holiness," said the golfer.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Tell me the good news, Cardinal Nicklaus," said the Pope.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "Well, Your Holiness, I don't like to brag, but even though I
> >> > have
> >>played some
> >> > pretty terrific rounds of golf in my life, this was the best I
> >> > have
> >>ever
> >> > played, by far. I must have been inspired from above. My drives
> >> > were
> >>long and
> >> > true, my irons were accurate and purposeful, and my putting was
> >>perfect. With
> >> > all due respect, my play was truly miraculous."
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "How can there be bad news?" the Pope asked.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Nicklaus sighed "I lost by three strokes to Rabbi Tiger Woods.
> >> > the
> >>treatment
> >> > of Jews by the Catholic Church over the years Ariel Sharon, the
> >> > Prime Minister of Israel, sent a proposal to the College of
> >> > Cardinals for a
> >>friendly
> >> > game of golf to be played between the two leaders or their
> >>representatives to
> >> > demonstrate the friendship and ecumenical spirit shared by the
> >> > Catholics and the Jews.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > The Pope then met with his College of Cardinals to discuss the
> >>proposal.
> >> >
> >> > "Your Holiness," said one of the Cardinals, "Mr. Sharon wants to
> >>challenge you
> >> > to a game of golf to show that you are old and unable to compete.
> >> > I am afraid that this would tarnish our image in the world."
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > The Pope thought about this and since he had never held a golf
> >> > club
in
> >>his
> >> > life asked "Don't we have a Cardinal to represent me?"
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "None who plays golf very well," a Cardinal replied. "But," he
> >> > added,
> >>"There
> >> > is a man named Jack Nicklaus, an American golfer, who is a devout
> >> > Catholic.
> >> >
> >> > We can offer to make him a Cardinal, and then ask him to play Mr.
> >>Sharon as
> >> > your personal representative. In addition to showing our spirit
> >> > of cooperation, we will also win the match."
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Everyone agreed that this was a great idea. The call was made. Of
> >>course,
> >> > Nicklaus was honoured and he agreed to play as a representative
> >> > of
the
> >>Pope.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > The day after the match, Nicklaus reported to the Vatican to
> >> > inform
the
> >>Pope
> >> > of the result. "This is Cardinal Nicklaus.. I have some good news
> >> > and some bad news, Holiness," said the golfer.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Tell me the good news, Cardinal Nicklaus," said the Pope.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "Well, Your Holiness, I don't like to brag, but even though I
> >> > have
> >>played some
> >> > pretty terrific rounds of golf in my life, this was the best I
> >> > have
> >>ever
> >> > played, by far. I must have been inspired from above. My drives
> >> > were
> >>long and
> >> > true, my irons were accurate and purposeful, and my putting was
> >>perfect. With
> >> > all due respect, my play was truly miraculous."
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "How can there be bad news?" the Pope asked.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Nicklaus sighed "I lost by three strokes to Rabbi Tiger Woods.
