The religious right is still simmering over two major SCOTUS decisions that established the prohibition of prayer in public school. So it's not surprising that Fox "News." as the mouthpiece for the religious right, would promote the importance of getting prayer back into the TAXPAYER funded schools. What's interesting is that they are using their only official resident clergyman, a right wing Catholic priest, to promote the message about getting prayer back in public school. Who cares about that silly First Amendment, anyway!
This morning, Fr. Morris' weekly boyish Fox & Friends face time began with video of the governor of Mississippi who "raised eyebrows about his comments about non-denominational school prayer." Clayton Morris read Phil Bryant's comment that "at some point at a moment of enlightenment" (LOL!) "in the future, the federal government...is going to say it's not a bad thing for children to hear prayer in school.." Dave Briggs introduced Fox's one true priest. After Briggs noted how unusual it is to hear this from a politician, Fr. Morris enthused that "he's on the right track if history is a good teacher." He gushed that prayer was "very prevalent in schools throughout the 18th and 19th and first half of the 20th century." (Right, padre, it was Protestant prayer about which the Catholics and Jews, for good reason, complained about). Morris then got all excited as he described the above mentioned Supreme Court cases. He then said, since then, there's been "an advancement to what we saw before" with prayers at graduations and before high school football games. He didn't mention that the Supreme Court ruled that prayer before football games is unconstitutional and that school sponsored school prayer at graduation is also unconstitutional.
As the chyron described the Mississippi governor as a "prayer advocate," Fr. Morris said that prayer is "coming back a little bit and it should be a reflection of the faith of a region." Morris' ignorance of the First Amendment was shown in his comment about how if the people of a region have great faith, "allow them to prayer as they want." Alysin Camerota echoed the Fox sentiment about evil "PC" when she complained that schools, out of concern for all students, are keeping religion out of the classroom. After she cited, as examples of what is prohibited in schools, Christmas trees and Menorahs, she "explained" that what the MS.governor is saying is "let all comers come" which isn't what Fr. Morris is saying. Fr. Morris, not a constitutional scholar, claimed that this is line with SCOTUS decisions about religion in the public square which, of course, is different from public schools. He claimed that "we're getting a little more sensible" and - ready for it - "more constitutional, no establishment of religion but no law that prohibits the free exercise of religion." He flashed his pearly whites and proclaimed that "maybe this is a good sign on a Sunday morning." Clayton Morris exclaimed "well said."
While Gov. Bryant is hoping for non-denominational prayer in school, Fr. Morris takes it a step further with the hope that the faithful should be able to "pray as they want." So that means that Jewish, Muslim, and non-believers should suck it up when the faithful classmates pray in Jesus' name. The same principle would obtain for Christian kids in Jewish or Muslim areas. Wonder what non-Catholic parents would say about their kids having to say the "Hail Mary" before class. And that, Fr. Morris, is why the SCOTUS made the rulings that they did.
It's Sunday and time for the one true Fox News gospel according to Father Morris, thanks be to God and Roger Ailes who is a Fox god.
Good to hear. ;^)>
.