That Fox News loves victimized Christians is apparent in the steady parade of right wing evangelicals for whom they provide a pulpit from which to preach their steady whine about how evil atheists are trying to destroy Jesus. As we know from the reporting of Fox's intrepid Jesus BFF and gay pride parade stalker, Todd Starnes, the newest group of persecuted Christians are in the military which, according to Starnes and his Christian wingnut pals, is under the evil influence of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation which is also trying to destroy Jesus. But now that Michael Weinstein's group is successfully pushing back against those who seek to impose their Christianist views in a taxpayer funded military that is no longer homogenously Christian, Fox is now promoting the position of the aggrieved Christians who think that the military is scared of the MRFF. So who better to provide validation than official Fox priest Fr. Jonathan Morris who not only pimps for the Catholic bishops but those same folks who claim that Satan and the "gay agenda" are ruining our military?!
Not surprisingly, yesterday's weekly Sundays with Fr. Morris segment was part of the patented Fox News "Fight for Faith." Tucker Carlson reported that a "video tribute to first sergeants in the Air Force has been banned because it mentions the word God." He played a portion of the video which used the phrase "and God created a first sergeant." As in the secular Chevy ad, this phrasing is straight of the Book of Genesis. The entire video (attached) has this phrase and and many other references to God throughout the piece Carlson smirked as Clayton Morris noted that military "top brass" said that the video "could offend atheists and Muslims" and asked if this was "the PC police going too far." (Oh, yes, Clayton, praise Jesus!)
Morris asked, incredulously, how this is "offensive." Morris responded that it "isn't offensive to most atheists and agnostics" (and you know this, how, padre?) who are "tremendously respectful" to those who have belief. As he has done before, Morris accused a "small group of activists, atheists, whose mission it is, whose goal it is, to wipe out the face, the name, the voice of God from any public expression in our country." He claimed that the military is "scared" that this is the "establishment of religion and it absolutely is not." (A serious religious treatment about God creating sergeants?) As Morris did his best jazz hands, the chyron reinforced the agitprop: "Chaplains Under Fire, Military Too PC About Religion?"
Carlson said that "it's not just a religious question so much as it's a speech question." (How bout First Amendment question involving government "establishment of religion.") He argued that this involves the right to use the word "God" in public." (So not the issue, Tucker). Spittle was flying as Morris read a comment, from his Facebook, from an evil atheist who said that if Christians want to pray, "do it privately." (Right, padre, you aren't entitled to an audience.) Ainsley Earhardt mentioned that the video was based on the Super Bowl Ad ("And God created a farmer"). Of course, nobody mentioned that the Super Bowl isn't an arm of the government. The chyron targeted two groups that are on the top of Fox's Jesus hating enemies list: "Air Force Tribute Banned, Military: "May Offend Atheists and Muslims."
Morris shouted as he read an FDR quote encouraging those in the military to read the Bible which, according to Morris, is "inspiring" to even non-Christians. (Yeah, that stuff about not touching menstruating women and forcibly circumcising your enemies is awesome!) He mentioned that there are also other inspirational readings (the Koran?) but "this is how far we've come." He shook his finger as he emphasized the importance of "speaking out." With his baby blues looking directly in the camera, he admonished the military to "have the courage to say we are going to honor our tradition that's made our country great...allow people to speak freely, even, I would say especially, when it's about religion and spirituality."
It isn't that the military is "scared of litigation." As the Chief of the Air Force News Service said, "the choice of ‘On the eighth day’ verbiage to begin this video is highly suggestive of the Book of Genesis in the Bible and has Christian overtones. How would an agnostic, atheist or Muslim serving in the military take this video?” In other words, the Air Force is showing some sensitivity to those who aren't Christian and in so doing remains in compliance with the law. But for Fox News, if you're not Christian, you don't count and should just suck it up. Never mind Jesus, praise Roger Ailes!
Check out the military video which, at the beginning, has military logos.
Actually, it’s not so much the “evil atheist” who’s wrong here. Even Jesus Himself advocated to pray in private.
“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14, KJV)
This is known as the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. Perhaps Father Sugarlips might want to review his own Holy Book before condemning an “evil atheist” who seems to know what the “Good Book” actually says.