Sean Hannity incited a group of clergymen to break the law and claimed he would go to jail, too, in order to protest women gaining the guaranteed access to reproductive health benefits President Obama wants for them. But Fox News contributor Father Jonathan Morris upped the ante as he declared fervently, “If I’m asked to do something that goes against my conscience, I’d better be willing to die for that. If I’m not willing to die for that, what am I standing up for?”

It was all part of an hour-long Hannity special Friday night (2/10/12) with the laughable title of “Faith in America.” It should have been called, “How To Use Faith To Promote An Anti-Obama, Anti-Choice Political Agenda.” Tactic #1 was to play the persecuted Christian martyr. Hannity opened by saying, “Let me start with a really simple premise question. Is there a war now against, on religion in America?”

Predictably, the answers were “yes.”

Fr. Morris (who doesn’t seem to have ever met a GOP talking point on religion he wasn’t eager to reiterate) jumped in early with comments that could have come right out of a Republican strategist’s playbook. “Right now, this seems like it’s about contraception but it’s not. It seems like it’s about the Catholic Church, but it’s not. It’s about the federal government deciding, in this case, contraception - and in the next case whatever ideology it happens to be supporting – is more important than religious freedom.” He then suggested viewers should get politically active as he gushed over the "little bit of hope" that the audience could write their Congressmen, Fox News and the White House and say, "Enough is enough."

Rev. Wayne Perryman, a rabidly anti-Democratic African American, accused Obama of ignoring black churches. Hannity regularly attacks Obama for embracing black liberation theology (read: black racism) but he was all ears for Perryman's attack. Perryman told an approving Hannity, “(Obama) is chipping away at the foundation of the black community.”

Hannity picked up on Morris' religious activism meme. He said, “You are all, in your own right, strong men of faith and religious leaders, everyone here tonight. There have been religious leaders such as yourselves that have spoken out publicly and have said that this is so unjust, such an assault on freedom of, of religion and liberty that there are those that are saying they will not obey this mandate. How many of you will not obey this mandate?”

Hannity raised his hand as a prompt in case the group hadn’t already gotten the hint. 

Dr. Richard Land (a Bush loyalist who supported Harriet Miers’ nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court) said, “If we’re all willing to go to jail, none of us will have to. If they want to read my letter from the Nashville jail, I’m ready to follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther King, Jr. and write such a letter. I will not comply with this law.”

Hannity raised his hand again as he asked, “How many of you would be willing to go to jail?” Hannity said, “I’ll go to jail with you.” Of course, Hannity made an empty promise to undergo waterboarding for charity nearly three years ago to prove that it’s not torture. So if anyone was induced to go to jail with the thought that Hannity would be sacrificing his own hide as he urged others to sacrifice theirs – well, I wouldn’t count on it.

Morris, on the other hand, seemed a bit more convincing - albeit also more frightening – as he jumped in to further Hannity’s provocation. Morris said vehemently, “People have died for those things that are absolutely essential to their faith. It’s not a question are you willing to go to jail. If I’m asked to do something that goes against my conscience, I’d better be willing to die for that. If I’m not willing to die for that, what am I standing up for?”

So there you have it. Fox Newsies are eager to start a holy war - in order to prevent women from getting contraception covered by health insurance.