John Kerry must have a very unusual sense of humor.

He didn't think there was anything funny about President Bush's joke about looking under tables for weapons of mass destruction. In fact, he claims to be personally offended by the barb tossed out at a media correspondents' dinner this week.

Imagine that.

However, a few years ago, Kerry yucked it up himself with "Imus in the Morning" over a subject much more personal and – to many, especially Catholics – much more offensive.

Kerry joked about the annulment of his first marriage – one that lasted 18 years and produced two children.

Now that's funny, right?

In May 1997, Kerry appeared on Don Imus' nationally syndicated radio show and, according to the Boston Globe, "opened up for the first time about his decision to seek an annulment of his first marriage, jokingly describing annulment as 'one of those special Catholic things.'"

"Seventy-five percent of all the annulments in the world take place in the United States, and I guess the figure drops to 50 percent if you take out all Massachusetts' politicians," he said.

They say humor only works if it is based on some truth – and there is certainly some truth to the fact that Massachusetts' politicians seem to get preferential treatment by the Catholic Church when it comes to annulments.

But is an annulment of an 18-year, child-bearing marriage a joking matter?

Kerry was alluding to the high-profile annulment granted to Rep. Joe Kennedy in 1993 for his 12-year marriage to Sheila Rauch Kennedy. His wife was so angered by the annulment, she filed an appeal to Rome and wrote a book, "Shattered Faith," that assails the Church practice.

Kerry has kept the grounds for this annulment secret. But, since he considers it something of a joking matter, why not make his rationale public? After all, he doesn't want to have any secrets from the American people, does he? How does he justify pretending a marriage that lasted 18 years and produced two children never happened?

And what can you say about those in the Catholic Church who would grant such an annulment?

Kerry says he believes in the Church's teachings on key issues – like abortion and marriage. But, he adds: "I believe in the Church and I care about it enormously. But I think that it's important to not have the Church instructing politicians. That is an inappropriate crossing of the line in America."

He says it's just not appropriate for him to legislate based on his personal beliefs.

So, apparently, for all these years, Kerry has been legislating contrary to his personal beliefs!

He may indeed be for tax cuts. He may indeed be for destroying the terrorists. He may indeed be opposed to all these government spending programs he has voted to create.

You see, this is a man who votes contrary to his personal beliefs. So, we don't know the real Kerry!

In fact, maybe when he is criticizing the president for joking about weapons of mass destruction, he's not telling us what he really thinks. Perhaps personally he considers it funny, but publicly he doesn't.

In other words, this is a man who makes up the rules as he goes along.

He believes in the Church and its rules, but he violates them and seeks special privilege and exemption from them. He believes in the Church and its rules, but he votes opposite of what the Church teaches as a U.S. senator.

This is not a guy who should be granted special dispensation by the Church. He should be ex-communicated.

Just exactly what does John Kerry's faith mean to him? How does it affect his life? He doesn't practice it personally or publicly.

What will this mean to Catholics – and others – who do take their faith seriously?