As a media conduit for the Catholic Church, it isn't surprising that Fox News is promoting the latest endeavor of the shamelessly self-promoting, anti-abortion Catholic priest and Randall Terry pal, Fr. Frank Pavone, head of an order of priests who exist solely for the purpose of assisting in efforts to end abortion and harassing women who have them. But Pavone's zealotry doesn't seem to be a problem for Fox which warmly embraced him during the Schiavo Fox media circus. Fox also provided him with an extensive platform with which to smear the Canadian health care system over a case involving a terminally ill child and to brag about his mythical "rescue" of the baby. Pavone and his hosts also pushed the right wing agitprop that the alleged Canadian medical neglect was what will happen with Obamacare. Sunday, the "friends" validated his crusade against Rep. Nancy Pelosi whose Catholicism he is challenging. The Catholic Church can no longer burn uppity women. But the presence of Pavone, on Sunday's Fox & Friends shows that the "fair & balanced" Fox News is their go to place for anathemas!
Rep. Pelosi's sin involves her "smacking down" a question from a reporter from the Murdoch owned right wing "Weekly Standard." At a recent press event, John McCormack asked Ms. Pelosi a "gotcha" question about her opposition to the 20 week abortion ban bill passed by the House. "What is the moral difference between what Dr. Gosnell did to a baby born alive at 23 weeks and aborting her moments before birth?" Pelosi responded: "You're probably enjoying that question... For them to decide to disrespect a judgment a woman makes about her reproductive health is reprehensible." When McCormack kept yammering, Pelosi told him that he obviously has an agenda. But then came the really bad sin that, according to Pavone, is putting her in the high speed lane to hell: "As the mother of five children,as a practicing and respectful Catholic, this is sacred ground to me."
After the opening graphic, "The Fight for Faith," Tucker Carlson framed the Fox agitprop: "Nancy Pelosi continues to dodge questions about abortion and now our next guest is demanding that she renounce her Catholic faith." (Yet, her bishop hasn't made the same demand?) Alisyn Camerota introduced Pavone who immediately sputtered that Pelosi's press briefing was "absurd." He claimed that 10's of millions of Catholics are frustrated about Pelosi's views. The Fox chyron provided the Fox message that Pavone is a brave spokesperson for the Catholic Church, which he is not: "Taking a Stand, Pavone Speaks Out for Catholics." He accused her of "betraying" the "faith" because of her pro-choice position. He claimed that while he doesn't want her to leave Catholicism, he wants her to practice it, the chyron read "The 'Choice' is Yours, Priest: "Condemn Abortion or Leave the Church." He quipped that a public servant should know the difference between "serving the public and killing the public" and because she didn't answer McCormack's question, she doesn't know the difference.
He pimped his letter to Pelosi which people can sign onto on his website which he cited. Pavone then promoted the requisite anti-choice agitprop which morphs Gosnell with safe, legal abortion. Carlson pointed out that Pelosi identifies as a Catholic but that if she doesn't like church teachings, she should become a member of a pro-choice church. Pavone claimed that "being a Catholic means that you take a pro-life position." He launched into the newest pro-life meme about how their position is based on science and when Pelosi said that she doesn't know when life begins, she's being unscientific. Naturally, nobody said that the legal and religious community isn't in agreement about the beginning of life; i.e. personhood. He, again, admonished Pelosi to leave the church if she doesn't believe in its tenets.
So, for Catholic politicians, theology trumps responsibility to a diverse constituency. Interesting. Also interesting is the fact that a number of other politicians, such as RI's Senator Jack Reed, are pro-choice Catholics and Pavone isn't going after them. But hey, who needs the Spanish Inquisition when you've got Fox News!
BTW, Pavone's latest stunt, which was considered news worthy on Fox, was his attempt to claim the bodies of the babies, killed by Gosnell, so he could give them a Catholic burial. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner refused the request.
Their crusade should be against pedophile priests, but based on their own actions, that’s not their priority. The safety of children from sick predators in the church is not their concerned.
These cafeteria Catholic frauds should have been ex-communicated years ago.
NOTE TO PAVONE
You are an idiot posing as a so-called “priest.”
First, the United States is NOT subject to Vatican policy or doctrine. He might want to remember that John F Kennedy basically had to promise that, as President, his first priority would be to US law, even when it contradicted his own religious teaching. It was THAT affirmation that helped assuage the fears of millions of Americans (who, at that time, were incredibly UNcomfortable with the whole notion of “Roman Catholicism”) and get Kennedy elected to the Presidency.
Second, Nancy Pelosi is—when all is said and done—just a member of the House of Representatives. She does NOT represent “millions” of people as a member of the House (there are 53 House members from California—given CA’s population of 38 million, she represents around 720,000 people in her district which is, incidentally, located ENTIRELY within the city of San Francisco, an area that probably doesn’t care too much about the abortion issue). As far as those Catholics who are “frustrated,” well, EFF’EM. You try being a fairly liberal/progressive, don’t-give-a-whit-about-religious-BS gay man in Alabama and see what REAL “frustration” is like. I’d be willing to bet that there are “10s of millions” of women, all across the country, who are “frustrated” by the asshat GOPer men who feel that they should have some say in how a woman deals with HER OWN BODY.
Third, IF YOU DON’T WANT AN ABORTION, YOU SORRY MISERABLE EXCUSE FOR A CHILD-MOLESTING COVERING-UP CULT APOLOGIST, DON’T GET ONE. But until you develop ovaries, fallopian tubes, a uterus and a vagina, your opinion is as valid as your asshole.