The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PUERTO RICO SINNER AND PRIEST TALE

THERE WAS A MAN ONCE IN PUERTO RICO WHO ALWAYS THROUGHT
HE'D LIKE TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH A PIG.
ONE DAY, HE WAS PASSING A PIG FARM WHEN THE TEMPTATION
BECAME JUST TOO GREAT. HE RAN AS FAST AS HE COULD TO
THE FENCE OF THE PEN AND DOVE IN. BUT THE SPACE WAS
TOO SMALL AND HE GOT CAUGHT. THE FARMER ROUGHLY
THREW HIM OFF HIS LAND. WELL, A LITTLE LATER, HE
BEGAN TO FEEL GUILTY, AND SO HE DECIDED TO GO TO
CHURCH. HE GOT INTO THE CONFESSIONAL AT THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH AND ASKED THE PRIEST IF HE THOUGHT HE HAD
COMMITTED A SIN, SINCE HE DID NOT ACTUALLY HAVE
RELATIONS WITH THE PIGS. THE PRIEST SAID, WHY YES,
THERE WAS A SIN INVOLVED. SO THE SINNER REACHED IN
HIS POCKET A PULLED OUT A LARGE COIN AND SAID TO THE
PRIEST THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE IT TO THE CHURCH
FOR PENANCE. "LET ME SLIP IT THROUGH THE
CONFESSIONAL SCREEN, AND GIVE IT TO YOU FATHER,"
HE SAID. BUT THE COIN JUST BARELY DID NOT FIT.
THE PRIEST SAID FOR THE MAN TO COME AROUND AND GIVE
IT TO HIM. BUT THE SINNER QUICKLY SAID, "OH, BUT
FATHER, THE INTENT WAS THERE JUST AS YOU A WHILE AGO
SAID TO ME. THEREFORE, IT'S JUST AS THOUGH I GAVE IT
TO YOU."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Date learned: 10-00-1968