Returned to the ground . . .

An interesting observation was made yesterday by my dining companion at lunch.  He jokingly said, "No, California must be destroyed . . . physically.  A giant earthquake, perhaps, and the state swallowed whole."

Man praying at Our Lady, Queen of Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles, CA

"But why?"

"Tell me," he said, "What does canon law mandate be done with sacred, consecrated objects that have been defiled and desecrated?"

"They are buried," I said.

"Yes, or otherwise destroyed, but in all cases - returned to the ground."

I thought for a moment.  "Yes," I replied.  "Just as a human may be cremated, their ashes cannot be scattered according to strictures, but interred properly as if their body was kept whole.  Because we sacred and consecrated."

My friend smiled.  "Exactly - and so it occurred to me.  California, founded by the Franciscans, was - is - is sacred and consecrated ground.  But it has been defiled, by various people in Hollywood, Sacramento, San Francisco . . . in the Church . . ."

He picked up his fork.  "Therefore," he concluded, "it must be returned to the ground."

My friend took another bite of his catfish.