As a conservative Catholic, Bill O'Reilly uses his program to bash abortion and women who have them. He continues to engage in character assassination of Dr. George Tiller even after the abortion provider was assassinated. But Tuesday night's "Factor" shows that when it comes to the issue of immigration, O'Reilly isn't really on board with the position of the Catholic bishops who support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants - a position opposed by the GOP. And while he was silent on the Church's public pronouncements about the HHS mandate, he believes that such pronouncements, regarding immigration legislation, raises church/state issues. Meanwhile, official Fox priest Fr. Jonathan, who is a reliable mouthpiece for GOP talking points and who advised Fox viewers to vote GOP or go directly to hell, is supporting the bishops. So is Bill O'Reilly a "cafeteria Catholic" who picks and chooses which dogma to support? Is Fr. Jonathan Morris going rogue on Roger Ailes and the GOP? It's all so confusing....
O'Reilly reported that the immigration bill is "stalled" is congress and the American Catholic Church will be "urging its congregations to support the bill" via sermons during Catholic masses. He added "of course that raises the issue of separation of church and state issues."
O'REILLY HYPOCRISY ALERT: When the Catholic bishops instructed parish priests to read a letter regarding the Obama administration's HHS birth control mandate, O'Reilly didn't say bupkis. There was no comment from O'Reilly when Illinois Catholic bishop Daniel Jenky, who compared Obama to Hitler, instructed his priests to read an anti-Obama letter right before last year's elections. He had no problem with the Catholic bishops voting guide which described the "dangers of putting your immortal soul in danger by casting a vote for a candidate who supported abortion rights, end of life decisions, or any deviation from a traditional man and woman marriage."
He asked Fr. Morris "why the Catholic Church wants to engage in this" - a question he doesn't ask about the Church's involvement on abortion and same sex marriage. Morris towed the party line in explaining how immigrants get to the country because we don't take border security and enforcement of immigration laws seriously. But he broke with the talking points by asserting that taking advantage of the work of these people makes for an "unjust system." After veering back to the party line, when he said that this doesn't mean that "it's right and ethical for them to have broken the law," he added that "most" of the undocumented are hard workers.
To O'Reilly's question of whether this is about "justice," Morris responded that it's about "respect and dignity." O'Reilly said that "some cynics" might say that because many of the immigrants are Catholics, the Church is trying "to beef up the congregation...which a lot of people don't think is fair and effective." O'Reilly opinion that "most priests" don't understand what's in the bill was rebutted by Morris who responded that the bishops have studied it closely.
O'REILLY HYPOCRISY ALERT: O'Reilly asked "what about using Mass and the pulpit, and the sermons to push a political dictum." (See above Hypocrisy Alert)
Fr. Morris responded that he would never tell people "who or what to vote for" which, considering past commentary, is a crock of crap. He continued with commentary about how the church shouldn't remain silent on important issues. O'Reilly opined that it's wrong if priests urge their congregation to support the bill. Rather than blaming employers, who use the undocumented, O'Reilly claimed the government is encouraging this type of immigration. In order to placate O'Reilly and his viewers, Morris mentioned the bishops' lawsuits over the birth control mandate. O'Reilly bloviated: "what the folks want is for priests and bishops to understand the political implications." (As opposed to political implications regarding abortion, the HHS mandate, and same sex marriage?) He ended the segment by teasing Morris about the mushroom festival.
It's all so confusing....
Video here
Fr Jon did a fair job of explaining the immigrants situation today. I’ll bet its a perspective most Fox watchers haven’t heard – ever.
Billy is famous for his profanity-laced outbursts. But that gets a pass from Morris, another cafeteria Catholic.
In the past, Billy has clashed with the Catholic church. A gem from Billy’s past.
http://www.catholicleague.org/bill-oreilly-gets-in-over-his-head/