In an effort to sell merchandise, advertising frequently features hot, young people. In an effort to sell the Catholic Church, this morning's Fox & Friends featured hot, young  (and rather white) Catholics who are part of the most groovy parish evah!

Demonstrating the close link between Murdoch print and Murdoch TV, this morning's Fox & Friends brought life to last week'sNY Post article about very groovy, young Catholics at Old St. Patrick's Cathedral. Mentioned in the article, "Good Lord, This is the Sexiest Congregation in NYC," was official Foxpriest Fr. Jonathan Morris who, before his transfer to a more ethnic parish, started bringing in the hipsters.

Former Catholic and present evangelical Elisabeth Hasselbeck began her interview, part of Fox's "Keeping the Faith" series, with three cool (and mostly white) young Catholics from Old St. Pat's. She gushed that "you've been dubbed the most attractive congregation in NY City, what a title." (She didn't mention that the dubbing was from the NY Post.)  She reported that members of this congregation are "turning Catholic cool" with things like wine parties. (Uh, oh, an "occasion of sin?) She noted that the congregation has "a modern approach to preaching the gospel." While the background image of a wine party featured mostly white people, there was an African-American man sipping wine in the background.

Hasselbeck :"You are representing the hot congregation, how does that feel?" Mark Ciolli waxed orgasmic about the parish "in the hippest neighborhood in New York." Ashley Marchetta spoke about being with people with whom she shares a common faith. The banner: "Dear Lord, 7PM Service at NY Church Known as SexyMass."

Hasselbeck wanted to know what keeps "attractive people in this congregation." Carlos Olson (half Hispanic?)  remarked that the church is in a "very trendy neighborhood." He noted that the hipsters go for drinks after Mass. Fr. Morris got a big plug with the banner "Sunday Service, Mass Started by FNC's Father John Morris." (Uh, it's "Jonathan Morris" not John Morris) and Hasselbeck's comment about how Morris just "loved" the parish.

Hasselbeck asked them to identify which sermons they felt were impactful. Ciolli mentioned last night's sermon on Star Wars which, he opined, is a story about Christian redemption. (How bout a story about huge bucks for the movie industry!) Hasselbeck: "Incredible." The banner stressed the sacred booze: "Holy "Spirits" Regular Wine and Beer Tastings in the Courtyard." Ciolli encouraged folks to check them out. Hasselbeck thanks them for appearing on "the hottest curvy couch."

It's said that wine loosens the tongue. Let us hope that it doesn't loosen the garments of these cool, Catholic kids because that could lead to all sorts of moral degradation which is expressly forbidden by the old fuddy duddies in the Catholic Magisterium.  But these Catholic glitterati do seem sincere. Given that they check off all the right Fox News boxes whitish, Catholic), maybe there are Fox "news" host jobs in the future. But, seriously, "Good lord....."