“Did he kiss you—like this?” the priest asked. “Did he press you to his bosom—like this?” She was now in his embrace, struggling in vain to free herself. “Nay, do not struggle, little bird. If you grant such favors to enemies of religion, you ought not to refuse them to representatives of the Lord.”
“How can you call yourself a representative of the Lord when you do these things?” she managed to ask between his kisses.
“Why, Chuleta, did not the Holy Ghost overshadow even the blessed virgin? And is it not an honor to be embraced by one who stands, as it were, in the very person of Christ? If you have yielded to the enemy of the Master, ought you not yield to the true representative of the Master, and so make atonement to him?”
For answer, she managed to free one hand and slap his face.
“You do not know the manner of my country,” said the priest, thrusting his hand in her bosom. “The instructions for confession, issued by Saint Liguori, says: ‘Kisses, embraces, squeezing of the hands and similar things not indecent, if done only as marks of affability or benevolence, according to the custom of the country, in an honest way, are not sins.’ Again: ‘To speak, hear, read, write indecent things with a legitimate reason is no sin. Hence, in order to administer the sacrament of penance priests can lawfully hear and read all they wish.’ Tell me what this insurgent did to you.”
The girl wrenched herself away, and, flying to the door, tried to open it. The priest stood and smiled.
“The case is hopeless,” he said. “You might as well confess.”
“Have you no regard for your sacred calling? Have you no regard for this sacred place?” she asked.
“Nothing is more sacred than love,” said he. “Saint Liguori says: ‘Concerning the locality, every external carnal action, although hidden in a sacred place, is a sacrilege. However, cells, a cloister, the vestry, the roof above the church, its door and vestibule, are excluded.’ You see we are excused.”
“Excused! Oh, the wickedness of your heart! I wonder not that Saguanaldo broke away from the church you represent.”