In the real world, US churches are still open and clergy have not been marched off into gualgs. But, in the dualistic world of Fox News, the evil forces of secularism are constantly attacking the godly forces of America's Christians. In the bizarro world of Fox News, the First Amendment does not prohibit an establishment of Christianity; but, rather, guarantees Christians the right to impose their beliefs in the public square. The Christian right's opposition to the HHS birth control mandate, based on dubious claims of "religious freedom," fits nicely into the Fox persecuted Christian/religious freedom memes. As such, Fox never wastes an opportunity to validate this alleged Christian victimhood. And who better to give his seal of approval to the faux controversy and promote the talking points of US Conference of Catholic bishops than Fox's one true priest Fr. Jonathan Morris who, in lamenting the rise of government restrictions on religion, got to smear the President in the process. Mirabile Dictu?!

Yesterday's Sundays with Fr. Morris opened with the patented Fox "Fight for Faith" intro graphic of dark clouds accompanied by ominous orchestral back-up. Devout Christian (Anglican - not one of those nasty, sodomite Episcopalians), famous "dick" and proud gay basher Tucker Carlson asked "Is hostility towards religion on the rise in the United States." As the chyron advanced the patented Fox persecuted Christian meme, "Railing Against Religion, RPT., Religious Hostility on the Rise in the US," Carlson answered his own question, "Oh, yes, by a lot." Sweet Southern Sunday school teacher Anna Kooiman reported that, according to a Pew Poll, there have been major increases in government restrictions on religion and negative social attitudes towards religion. Clayton Morris asked what this means for "your freedom of religion and is big government overstepping its boundaries."

Clayton Morris asked Foxpriest Fr. Morris to discuss the increase in negative attitudes towards religion. While Morris cited the increase in those who identify as agnostics and atheists, he claimed that he's seeing an increase of those who are looking for a spiritual path. He attributed the rising numbers of non-affiliated in the church's failure to conduct adequate outreach.

Tucker Carlson casually and very obviously worked in the requisite religious right and Catholic bishops talking points: "Here's what I think is ominous. There's been a pretty marked increase in government restrictions on the practice of religion." Showing, once again, why he's Roger Ailes special friend, Fr. Morris pushed the right wing and Catholic bishops talking points which, surprise, surprise, was a not so thinly disguised smear of the President: "I think especially in this administration, in particular, we've seen very specific restrictions on really defining who is considered to be a religious organization, for example, the HHS mandate saying you know what, you're only a religious institution if what your mostly about is worship. But what about all these institutions that are religious based and are doing charitable works. That's a huge restriction."

Wall of genius Anna Kooiman asked "what about the separation of church and state" and cited, as an example, a student having to "take off their cross" -  a reference to a 2013 persecuted Christian story, advanced on Fox & Friends, which turned out to be a mistake acknowledged and apologized for by the school. Her next example of Christians being persecuted was a reference to students being prohibited from meeting by a flagpole - a movement "nurtured" by Christian youth pastors and organizations. What Anna didn't mention is that nobody is prohibiting students from praying at the flagpole but that there are restrictions because of  - uh - church/state issues.

As Fr. Morris exhorted everybody to "thank God" for the First Amendment's free exercise clause, the chryon provided one last bit of agitprop: "Intolerant America, Rpt. US More Restrictive than 130 countries."

Remind me again who is intolerant?