A priest in a small rural town was very fond of the ten chickens and
one handsome cock rooster he kept in a hen house behind the rectory.
One Saturday night the priest discovered that the cock rooster was
missing.
At the same time the priest heard rumours of cockfights being held in
town. Shocked and dismayed, he decided to say something during Sunday Mass.
During Mass he asked the congregation, "Who among you will confess to sporting a handsome cock?"
All the men stood up.
"No, no," he said. "That's not what I mean. Who among you will confess
to having seen a handsome cock?"
All the women stood up.
"Oh, no," he said. "That's not what I mean, either. Who among you will
confess to having seen a cock that doesn't belong to you?"
Half the women stood up.
"Oh Lord," he said. "Perhaps I should rephrase the question: Has
anybody here seen my cock?"
All the choirboys stood up
