well joe,in your terms it looks like you are dealing with an idiot as i have no trouble believing that God is well able to prepare a sea creature to swallow jonah.if you believe the gospels it seems you are calling Jesus an idiot also.he compared the 3 day duration of jonahs internment in the sea creature with the 3 days of his in the tomb.
maybe you think that allegorical as well and he never rose again?.
my question to you would be the same as paul posed to the roman leader
"..why should you think it incredible that God should raise the dead"
i respect your right not to answer my query as to whether your priest is as liberal in theology as yourself,and does the congregation deserve to know if he is but i am inclined to think such witholding of any such information borders on the deceptive,especially if he preaches as though he does believe.