“Most of us come to the church by a means the church does not allow.”

“...the only thing that makes the Church endurable is that it is somehow the body of Christ and that on this we are fed. It seems to be a fact that you have to suffer as much from the Church as for it but if you believe in the divinity of Christ, you have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it. ”

“It began to drizzle rain and he turned on the windshield wipers; they made a great clatter like two idiots clapping in church.”

“The operation of the Church is entirely set up for the sinner; which creates much misunderstanding among the smug.”(August 9, 1955)”

“I'm a member and preacher to that church where the blind don't see and the lame don't walk and what's dead stays that way.”

“The Church's stand on birth control is the most absolutely spiritual of all her stands and with all of us being materialists at heart, there is little wonder that it causes unease. I wish various fathers would quit trying to defend it by saying that the world can support 40 billion. I will rejoice the day when they say: This is right whether we all rot on top of each other or not, dear children, as we certainly may. Either practice restraint or be prepared for crowding...”

“You don't serve God by saying: the Church is ineffective, I'll have none of it. Your pain at its lack of effectiveness is a sign of your nearness to God. We help overcome this lack of effectiveness simply by suffering on account of it. ”