Peter Johnson, Jr., the Fox News “legal analyst” who is reportedly a Roger Ailes surrogate, was in Newtown, Connecticut yesterday, presumably to report on legal issues. But in the meanwhile, he took an opportunity to promote Christian Godliness with Monsignor Robert Weiss.
Johnson wasted little time (about 30 seconds) before he let everyone know that he and his daughter lit candles in Weiss’ church. Then Weiss came on for a five-minute interview to tell us about “the pain in this town.”
But what Johnson really meant was that we should learn about the Christian pain. “One young child was to be an angel in the Christmas pageant at St. Rose of Lima (presumably Weiss’ church),” Johnson told us. “Another child you had to tell about how his sister died… Tell us about what you’re feeling about what your parishioners in this town is feeling.”
As Priscilla pointed out, the shootings occurred in the middle of Hannukah. But while Fox whines about anti-Semitism at the drop of a hat, you could be forgiven if you had no clue that one of the children shot 11 times was Jewish.
Monsignor Weiss recounted how he comforted a little boy who had lost his sister by assuring him she was with God in heaven and “We talked a little bit about what heaven was like and he realized that she was going to be happy, that she was going to be safe.”
Fox viewers will be pleased to know that the live Nativity scene will go on as scheduled. Johnson told us approvingly that a man will come into the church “and say that there is a star over the stable and the church will proceed out to the stable, to a live Nativity scene… and they will look at the baby Jesus.” He asked, “When your parishioners look at the baby Jesus in that crèche, what does that say about all the babies that were lost here? What’s the message?”
Weiss replied, “That light that shone over Christ is going to shine over these families as well. These little children are angels now.”
News flash for Johnson: Jewish families would not believe nor would they want their children to be angels. If there were any Muslim children, I doubt they would be comforted by that statement, either.
I’m all for expressions of faith and I don’t have a problem with a priest offering his thoughts at a time like this. I do have a problem when the priest is presented as the only authority on faith and as if it’s just a given that we’re all in agreement on the subject.
For his final seal of approval, Johnson said to Weiss, “This community’s in good hands with you and with the loving parents and so we wish you well. On behalf of America, thank you for doing what you’re doing and we all wish to the people in Newtown, healing and faith and peace in this season… We can hope against hope that the light of Christmas shines through.”
Yesterday, a man in Southern California opened fire on a crowded mall parking lot. Because he was such a piss-poor shot (always was, not miraculously bad that day), people were able to get inside or behind a car and wait it out.
This morning, a man in indiana was arrested for a plot to shoot up a school. Once again, no miracle- he set himself up to get a visit from the law, who found his 47 guns, and proof he was scouting the building.
So, assuming God somehow played a role in saving people at a mall and stopping a second shooting… he still dropped the ball in Connecticut. The best case scenario is that he let 20 people die in one state, while saving people in another. He then stopped one gunman the next day, while letting another open fire. And don’t feed me that he let the guy who couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn do it because he wouldn’t hit anything- luck could have gone the other way, and ricochets.
The time to talk about God is over. Let’s talk about gun control.
“Portraying God as someone who arbitrarily kills kids to fill celestial openings is neither faithful to God, nor helpful to grieving parents.”
As I noted in my thread, this isn’t the kind of clergy that you will see on Fox News in which not all religions, or denominations, are created equal.
