In an effort to provide an "imprimatur" on right wing talking points, Fox News employs a Catholic priest, Fr. Jonathan Morris, who can be counted on to parrot popular right wing talking points. If the sweet little priest takes personal positions which are contrary to the teaching of Fox News, such as what he *tweeted about torture, you won't hear them on Fox. While most times the propagandizing is obvious, it can sometimes be subtle, such as this morning when Morris reflected on the killing of the NY City police. While he spoke about faith in a time of crisis, he criticized certain "religious leaders" who aren't playing by right wing rules. Was he speaking about Al Sharpton and other Civil Rights leaders whom he accused, during the George Zimmerman trial, of "riling up' people? I think the answer is plain as the Roman Collar around Morris' neck.
Professional Fox Christian Ainsley Earhardt began with the comment that people were asking "where was God" when the two policemen were shot. Fr. Morris said that God didn't do this but it was, rather, the "terrible, terrible, evil decision" on the part of the shooter. He then preached about choice and how "now is the time for us to choose for the good." So far, so good but then the little padre took a sharp right turn.
He preached: "That means that if you have a strong political position, one way or the other, it's time to calm down, to relax and say I will not incite not just violence but I will not incite hatred for anybody." (ROFLMAO, he's saying this while employed by Fox News which thrives on inciting hatred!) He zeroed in for the propaganda kill: "Unfortunately, I think some religious leaders and political leaders have allowed their emotions to get the best of them and have said, you know, this is the problem and it's been very divisive." (And Fox would never be "divisive," right, padre!)Earhardt agreed and added that that's why many people, who are getting ready for church, have "a heavy heart."
After Morris preached about how the police were as innocent as Jesus who was also killed, he veered back into the agitprop. A scowl marred his pretty face as he said that people should say "we will not push our agenda any way that could incite us to violence." (Like when Hannity was pushing Cliven Bundy's agenda?)While he acknowledged that the shooter could be mentally ill, he add that "we know from his writings that he picked up a spirit of hatred for police officers and we are responsible, we are all responsible, those with a voice, to make sure that we are not speaking even to those who are into the fringes who could go off like this." He invited all religious leaders to say "I will not allow myself to speak in a way that could incite."
Earhardt provided a quote, from the Christian New Testament, about choosing between good and evil. Morris shouted "the world tells us to choose your side and let the other side have it. Now is the time to say we will love. We will choose goodness even when our passions are telling us something else." In a true spit out the coffee moment Earhardt gushed about how, at this time of the year, "we should remind ourselves that we should love all of God's children and come together." (All except atheists, Muslims, immigrants, gays, minorities, women who have abortions.....) Morris said that even if you're not a believer, this is "rational."
The double standard is amazing. When various anti-government crazies have committed homicde, I don't recall Fr. Morris admonishing those on the right to be responsible for their rhetoric. I don't recall him saying anything about Cliven Bundy's snipers aiming their weaponry on Federal officers. But then Fox News is all about choosing its side and, as we saw from today's sweet little propaganda pimp, letting the other side have it! Praise be to Roger Ailes from whom all blessings flow....
*Fr. Jonathan Morris @fatherjonathan · Dec 9
Politics aside...Torture, by any name, and for any reason, is inhumane and therefore immoral and therefore un-American.