out of his torn coat pocket. He opened his newspaper and began reading. After a few minutes, he turned to the priest and said, "Say, Father, what causes arthritis?"
The priest, trying to maintain a polite demeanor, replied, "My son, it's caused by a combination of factors, including genetic predisposition, age, and lifestyle choices."
The man seemed a bit puzzled by the answer but nodded and went back to his paper. A little while later, he turned to the priest again and asked, "Father, I've heard that you guys know everything. Can you tell me what causes cancer?"
The priest, now more serious, replied, "Cancer can be caused by various factors, such as exposure to carcinogens, genetics, and lifestyle choices. It's a complex disease, my son."
The man seemed satisfied with the response and went back to his newspaper. A few minutes later, he turned to the priest once more and asked, "Father, what causes heart disease?"
The priest, now a bit exasperated, replied, "Heart disease can result from a combination of factors, including diet, exercise, genetics, and stress."
The man, seemingly frustrated, mumbled to himself, "Well, if all these things are caused by factors, then what does a man have the priest for?"
The priest, trying not to laugh, simply said, "My son, you need a priest for forgiveness and salvation, not for medical advice!"
The man, still puzzled, nodded and returned to his paper. The subway passengers couldn't help but smile at the humorous exchange between the unlikely pair as they continued on their journey through
