Bishops are like umpires. You have to have them to call the close decisions.

When two close kindred meetWhat better than call a dance?

Boys, I'm one of those umpires that misses 'em every once in a while so if it's close, you'd better hit it.

It really was a close call,

I think there are a number of bishops -- and I put Cardinal Mahony in that category -- who listen too much to his lawyer and not enough to his heart.

I don't think there's any feeling it's unfair. I think the umpires are always challenged to call the game. The game is not an easy game to call to begin with, and I don't think you can allow outside influences to influence how you work a game. I mean, they're professional umpires. I think they do their best to get everything right.