tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post306177291097177229..comments2024-03-28T05:17:04.006-04:00Comments on southern orders: YOURS TRULY CELEBRATING THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN ESTILLL, SOUTH CAROLINAFr. Allan J. McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16986575955114152639noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-52011838836968982922016-01-16T05:53:47.564-05:002016-01-16T05:53:47.564-05:00True enough about the rear end collision. A couple...True enough about the rear end collision. A couple of extenuating circumstances and this is an odd case:<br /><br />The accident report by the South Carolina Highway Patrol marks a box that I contributed to the accident but the the sheriff's deputy's unmarked pick-up truck that I struck.<br /><br />There were two law enforcement agencies involved, the local one which I struck and because of that his fellow sheriff deputy could not investigate the scene, so the South Carolina Highway Patrol was called in (State Police). I doubt that two law enforcement agencies would give me a pass simply because I was a priest.<br /><br />The funeral procession was not a funeral procession but just a Hurst and two limousines being moved to another location. The sheriff's deputy should not have stopped abruptly in the middle of the road for them as they were about to stop at the stop sign themselves. But yes, I was looking at them wondering if I should stop and realized there were no people in the limousine, no escort and no flashing lights and they didn't have their lamps on. I was distracted.<br /><br />The sheriff deputy since he was in an unmarked car that had lights in the inside window of the cab (not on the truck)did not use his lights at all--he should have.<br /><br />But you are right, he was not cited as contributing to the accident in the report. Fr. Allan J. McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16986575955114152639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-81813249719889439522016-01-16T00:39:23.601-05:002016-01-16T00:39:23.601-05:00Fr. McD, with all due respect, where I come from, ...Fr. McD, with all due respect, where I come from, when you rear end another vehicle, it is ALWAYS your fault, no exceptions. The idea is that you are always to be in control of your vehicle, and not follow so near and at such a speed that you cannot stop. <br /><br />Glad you didn't get a ticket. Did your Roman collar perhaps influence their estimation of your culpability? Hmmm. :-)<br /><br />Glad no one was injured. Easy to see how this kind of thing could happen.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-18049571682404192272016-01-14T18:15:31.879-05:002016-01-14T18:15:31.879-05:00You might consider next time taking the 4 lane sou...You might consider next time taking the 4 lane south of Augusta (Hwy 25) to Statesboro, then get on 16 east to Savannah. Longer distance, but two-lane roads have more serious dangers than the four-lanes. Thankfully not hurt!<br /><br />On a related note (the Lessard funeral), one of the retired bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia (which covers southern Georgia below the Macon and Columbus areas and goes north to Augusta), Harry W. Shipps, wrote a nice column about the late bishop, which can viewed at the Diocese of Georgia website (Georgia Anglican.org) Bishop Shipps served during the second half (roughly) of the Lessard Era in Savannah. Both bishops worked on promoting ecumenism in the area. Bishop Shipps, approaching age 90, wrote in his column that the two bishops kept up with each other even after their respective retirements and distance apart.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-43401187957247429262016-01-13T17:18:25.994-05:002016-01-13T17:18:25.994-05:00No accident is ever good but at least you were not...No accident is ever good but at least you were not injured-or the other person for that matter. It is better having to repair or replace your vehicle than ending up in the hospital.<br />Thanks be to God that things were not worse.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05809499822558662728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-74611727464390465952016-01-13T08:18:46.876-05:002016-01-13T08:18:46.876-05:00"He did put a thumb on some of my more libera..."He did put a thumb on some of my more liberal tendencies liturgically and otherwise", mm-hmm, I think there may be a few tendencies still lurking beneath, but I am sure the Extraordinary Form will curtail those and no doubt your good bishop will keep an eye on you from above and you may still feel that thumb from time to time!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-40131026211280689362016-01-13T08:15:25.012-05:002016-01-13T08:15:25.012-05:00Fr McDonald, your Guardian Angel certainly protect...Fr McDonald, your Guardian Angel certainly protected you. It must have been very disappointing to miss the funeral, but maybe you were protected from an even more serious accident further on on your journey because you certainly were prevented from traveling on further and being in a hurry sometimes accidents happen. Deo gratias for your extraordinary escape from what could have been a much more serious accident by the looks of your car! I will remember your bishop in my prayers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-32915020590702145332016-01-13T07:51:24.180-05:002016-01-13T07:51:24.180-05:00Glad you're OK, Father! It sounds like the dep...Glad you're OK, Father! It sounds like the deputy sheriff was a traditionalist when it comes to funeral processions, hankering after arbitrary and outmoded practices, while you stuck precisely to the red and the black of the (1970s) South Carolina legal code. Quite right too.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13873507031809422203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-79099681136839817252016-01-13T07:09:38.222-05:002016-01-13T07:09:38.222-05:00Thank you, Lord, for protecting our priest, our sh...Thank you, Lord, for protecting our priest, our shepherd, Father McDonald. I am really sorry that you were involved in an accident...period. I was wondering why I did not see you in any of the pictures from the funeral. Figured you would have been a major part of the late Bishop's funeral due to your close priestly service under him. Thank God you were not injured! I know you were shaken up! Prayers from Stephen and Beverly Conner and family!Stephen Connerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318136903221006820noreply@blogger.com