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Fr. Jonathan Morris Encourages Democrats To Leave Party?

Posted by Priscilla -25.80pc on June 18, 2012 · Flag

Fox News has been unabashedly supportive of the American Catholic bishops in their opposition to the Obama administration's birth control mandate which the bishops claim is really about their right to "religious freedom." Fox News has promoted this meme about religious liberty at every opportunity in what seems to be an effort to ensure that aggrieved Catholics vote GOP. Fox's only clergy religion contributor, Fr. Jonathan Morris, has spoken about this supposed violation of religious freedom. He has also discussed the the "non-negotiable" items which Catholic are supposed to use as the basis for voting. Yesterday, during his weekly homily, Morris combined these two issues in a discussion about why southern Democrats are deserting the party. While he tried to be non-partisan, the message was clear. Even the video title, which seemed to be culled straight from an article from the Catholic News Agency, framed the agitprop: "Democrats Leaving Party Over" - you guessed it - "Religious Freedom?"  

Fox & Friends back bencher and all around Renaissance woman, Juliette Huddy (whose skirt elevation was, hopefully, not an "occasion of sin" for Fr. Morris!) immediately framed the issue by asking if Democrats are leaving the party "over marriage and religious freedom concerns." The message is that if you're a good Catholic, who is on board with the bishops' concern about "religious freedom," you might want to rethink your party affiliation. She cited statistics which show that the number of Mississippi Democrats have declined by 5% between 2008 and 2011 and asked what's "driving" the numbers. (Uh, the election of Barack Obama?) She introduced the cute, little padre who very dramatically intoned that it's all about the party platform of the Democratic Party.  He enthused that, regardless of party affiliation, it's good a thing because when a platform of a party "begins to take on issues that are non-negotiable for yourself, its good that you say that this party no longer represents my core values."

In order to look like he was singling out Democrats, he noted that the GOP should also "be on guard" because when a party becomes a "club," rather than a political force that represents your values," the power of the system is lost. He said that, for many party stalwarts, "all of a sudden the platform switches and I find myself going against my core beliefs."  He warned parties not to believe that they can hold people because historically they have them. As with many Morris' homilies, he offered what appeared to be a "fair & balanced" approach in warning that if Republicans take on a hard line anti-immigration stance, many values voters could flee the party. It's worth noting that Catholic "non-negotiable" issues do not include immigration. They are all about abortion, gay marriage, and embryonic stem cell research.

While the article that Fox appeared to have sourced was quite straightforward in its account of how Mississippi and other Southern Democrats switched parties over abortion and gay marriage, Morris was more nuanced. (Maybe he didn't read the article?)  But his references to party "platform" seemed to be a dog whistle for Catholics as the Democratic party platform supports a woman's right to an abortion while the GOP platform is anti-choice. The "non-negotiables" are also another convenient Catholic strategy for instructing their flock on how to vote without actually endorsing candidates - wink, wink.

So was the erstwhile Foxpriest instructing the faithful, once again, to vote Republican?  Certainly, on the "fair & balanced" Fox News network, Father knows best so it's all good....

Fr._Morris_Playtime.jpg

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Joshua Hatheway commented 2012-06-20 08:20:29 -0400 · Flag
@Visitor 55, Also it would NOT be stupid for an insurance company to allow restrictions. I do not know the numbers, but I am sure the Catholic Church employs a great number of people which would mean a bunch of premiums coming in. I would argue, in fact, that insurance companies would be knocking down doors to get that account.
Joshua Hatheway commented 2012-06-20 08:15:04 -0400 · Flag
@Visitor 55 Now we have gotten to the crux of the matter. I am sure in a FREE market, the Catholic Church and their employing entities could find an insurance company that would be willing to adhere to their restrictions on contraception. If you think I align with the church you are wrong, but I do believe they should be free to restrict coverage according to their beliefs.
Joshua Hatheway commented 2012-06-19 07:44:28 -0400 · Flag
@visitor 55— one thing you left out though is that when an employer offers benefits THEY pay part of the premium… hence the benefit part of it. Of course the insurance companies are happy to pay because they already got their money, some of which is paid by the provider of the benefits.
Kent Brockman commented 2012-06-19 07:28:27 -0400 · Flag
The Frocked Little Monkey Sez

I tell lies all day long, and dream up new lies in my sleep. That’s why I support Cardinal Dolan when he sez no alter boys were harmed under his watch. Besides, boys can’t get pregnant so who’s to say anything really went on?
Aria Prescott commented 2012-06-19 00:41:55 -0400 · Flag
Father Maciel must be SO proud of this guy…
Chico Brisbane commented 2012-06-18 22:43:14 -0400 · Flag
The only thing this democrat has left is the catholic church. I do not put money in the collection plate of my church so they can then turn around and use it to sue my government.
mj - the same one commented 2012-06-18 20:59:40 -0400 · Flag
Doncha just LOVE it whenever rightwingnuts offer “advice”, “encouragement”, or “concern” for Democrats or the Democratic Party?

.
mlp ! commented 2012-06-18 18:20:14 -0400 · Flag
A decline of Democratic voters in Mississippi?
Damn, I really didn’t know that hell-hole was in play!
Much ado about nothing, Father Spanky!
truman commented 2012-06-18 16:45:17 -0400 · Flag
@joshua hatheway. “I am ignorant as hell…”. Your email proves that.
Joshua Hatheway commented 2012-06-18 15:43:11 -0400 · Flag
I don’t see what all the fuss is about on this topic. If Catholic entities don’t want to pay for contraception don’t work for one if free contraception is that important to you. You can get free condoms pretty much in any city high school or free clinic so I guess if you really need the job you could still take it. I dont understand why that type of coverage has to be mandated for all employers. I am ignorant as hell but I don’t think they want to deny that type of coverage across the board, they just want an exemption because it conflicts with their religious tenets. Correct me if I’m wrong.

It’s kinda like forcing a Muslim school to serve pork once a week because its part of a well rounded diet.
doors17 commented 2012-06-18 15:27:25 -0400 · Flag
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A group of Roman Catholic nuns have left Des Moines on a two-week bus tour of nine states to protest Republican federal budget proposals that the group believes hurt the poor and vulnerable.

The Nuns on the Bus tour left Monday for Ames. It is scheduled to finish in Washington on July 2.

The nuns will visit Catholic-sponsored social service agencies and the offices of Republican members of Congress, including Rep. Steve King’s office in Ames, House Speaker John Boehner’s office in Chester, Ohio, and Rep. Eric Cantor’s office in Richmond, Va.

Organizer Sister Simone Campbell and three other nuns received a send-off from about 20 local Catholic nuns, parishioners and the priest from a Des Moines church. Network, a Catholic social justice lobby is sponsoring the tour.
truman commented 2012-06-18 12:49:25 -0400 · Flag
As a faithful servant of the Fux Noise dogma, Father Spanky should know that a decline in Democratic voters in MIssissippi might be at least partially driven by the plethora of rednecks residing there.

Is the decline in Catholic Church membership caused by the parishoners’ revulsion to pedophile priests and the bishops/cardinals who protect them? Just asking.








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