When I came to the Diocese of Sacramento in 2007, I was often greeted by the statement, phrased as a question, “So you’re from Southern California, right?” This was then rejoined by the accusation, “You’re one of those who take all our water for your pools.”

Having been in the window seat of a plane many times as it took off from or landed at the Orange County airport, I could see where one would get that impression. Sunlight glistens off of pools in many of the backyards of the homes in Irvine and Newport Beach surrounding the John Wayne Airport. This appears extravagant for a region known as semi-arid with relatively limited rainfall.