Confession

An elderly Frenchman who is a Catholic goes to confession and says to the Priest, "Father, I have been a very bad man. I have come to seek forgiveness for my sins."

The Priest can see that the man has a great deal on his mind and says, "Tell me what it is my son. It cannot be that bad."

The man replies, "In the Second World War a young Jewish lady came to me and asked me to hide her from the Germans. I did and made a place for her in the attic."

"But my son," replied the Priest, "that is an act of great kindness for which you will be rewarded."

"Yes," said the man, "but I was lonely and in order to let her stay, I demanded sexual favors from her."

"Oh, I see," said the Priest. "But my son, times were so hard then. You sought solace in the woman you were protecting. You are forgiven."

"Thank you," said the man, "that has been a great weight off of my shoulders. While I'm here, do you think that I should tell her the war has ended?"