Please note, everyone ... that when I raised this thread yesterday afternoon, it had most certainly NOT been my aim to resurrect an old, highly-conntentious issue - nor "spark(y)-off" [puns INtended] yet another fiery religious debate. Believe me, I'M no saint! However, my present wife, Myrna is a staunch believer, who - like most Filipinos - s regularly, while (to my shame) I am the first to admit I DON'T! However, in spite of her [hitherto] devout Catholicism - and my Protestant upbringing - she draws no distinctions between the two universally-accepted doctrines and, each Sunday, is more than happy attending the church where I have been a communicant member since 1967; indeed, for HER, it is one of the week's highlights! Moreover, she maintains my [apparent] "Christian" lifestyle was one of the principal factors that had attracted her to me at the outset.

By the same token, my first wife, Iris also happened to be a strong adherent to the principles of Christianity. So much so that, when she was sadly dying from a rare form of lymphatic cancer in 1991, she instructed me to ensure her death notice was worded "... and with great faith ..." - as opposed to "... after a long illnesss, bravely borne ..."! But far be it from ME to try and convert ANYONE! I'M just plain, old Arthur ... who's every bit as flawed a human being as the next person. And finally ... I am more than willing to concede that church attendance coupled with a belief in an 'Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth' maketh not the man (or woman) - rather, it is a comforting solace in a troubled and uncertain world. Amen ... here endeth the sermon!