Catholic Sean Hannity rounded up some of his favorite clergy to attack the pope for questioning Donald Trump’s Christianity. While he was at it, Hannity sandbagged a priest, who supported the pope’s assessment, by bringing up the pedophilia scandal.
From Reuters:
In a freewheeling conversation with reporters on his flight back from a visit to Mexico, Francis was asked about Trump and some of his statements, such as vowing to build a wall between the United States and Mexico if he becomes president.
“A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian,” Francis said in answer to a specific question about Trump’s views. “This is not in the gospel.”
Asked if American Catholics should vote for someone with Trump’s views, Francis said:
“I am not going to get involved in that. I say only that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that. We must see if he said things in that way and in this I give the benefit of the doubt,” he said.
Sean Hannity has been delighted to question Barack Obama’s religion but now that Pope Francis has questioned Trump’s, why Hannity is just so troubled. On principle, of course. Calling the pope’s comments “disgraceful,” Hannity asked, “Who is the pope to say that Donald Trump’s not a Christian?”
Guest Father Robert Sirico tried to argue the other side. But even as the only voice of dissent on a three-man panel, not including host Hannity, that was too much “balance” for Hannity’s tender sensibilities. Sirico began, “The point is that Trump thinks that he can be bombastic in every encounter with any leader in the world…”
Hannity interrupted with a comment designed to undercut Sirico and demean him, with a remark that had nothing to do with the subject at hand. “There were many priests that were involved in pedophilia against young children. Was that evil?” Hannity asked.
Pastor Robert Jeffress, a Fox News contributor, laughed loudly. On behalf of Christ, I’m sure.
Hannity continued, “The church kept a lot of those priests working.”
Sirico never got much of a chance to argue back before Hannity turned to Jerry Falwell, Jr., president of Liberty University and a Trump supporter.
Falwell began to gush about Trump. “I’ve seen his acts of generosity… I’ve seen how well he treats his employees… how close his relationship and how loving it is with his children.”
Yeah, just pay no attention to his “Christian” support for torture, racism, attacks on the disabled and lies.
Falwell said he had “no doubt” that Trump is “a man of faith and he’s a Christian.” But Falwell said the reason he’s supporting Trump is because “We’ve got to focus on who is most qualified. If your child is sick, you want the best doctor. You don’t want a doctor who shares your faith, necessarily.”
But you do probably want a doctor with some actual training and experience rather than someone who goes around bragging about how great he’ll make you feel and how much everyone else loves him. Which are just about the only actual qualifications Trump has.
But Hannity said, “That’s a great point.”
Then it was Jeffress’ turn.
JEFFRESS: Look, the pope needs to ask for Donald Trump’s forgiveness for saying such an outlandish thing. Look, I want to remind our viewers that it was exactly a year ago this week that ISIS chopped off the heads of 21 Coptic Christians on that Libyan beach and then looked into the camera and said we’re coming to Rome next. The pope, above all people, ought to understand that God has given government the role of protecting its citizens and upholding the laws and Sean, I do have to hand it to the pope. He performed a miracle today. He has done what nobody in history’s been able to do, he has turned Donald Trump into a martyr and I believe because of that, Trump’s poll numbers are going to continue to go up because as much as people respect the Pope, they don’t want the pope inserting himself in the American election and they sure don’t want to be taking advice from the pope on American security.
Jeffress said something very similar on Hannity’s radio show earlier that day. Obviously, Hannity liked it so much, he wanted a repeat performance on television.
Watch the Fox News brand of Christianity below, from the February 18 Hannity.
Willful ignorance is NOT BLISSful … just plain stupid!
AND the STUPID is strong in these charlatans!
But with the OVER ABUNDANCE of ignorance in today’s society you would think people would be happier in general.
Ignorance is the root of our discontent.
The ignorance of the quotes a lot of you are making shows that most of you are false Christians and don’t even understand the scriptures. Only using the parts that agree with your agenda is no better. All the words are important. Distorting them to support hatred, bigotry, attacks on the Pope and political agendas is anti-christian. The Pope ( Bishop of Rome as head of the Roman Catholic Church.Pontiff, Bishop of Rome, Holy Father, Vicar of Christ, His Holiness) is far more qualified to comment on Christianity than these charlatans (Jeffress,
Falwell, Graham, CBN). You are white supremacists in sheep’s clothing, backing a white supremacist, nothing more.
“All Americans of any skin color, origin—Black, White, Hispanics, Asian and all minorities have been driven from their jobs, by insipid business owners that desire cheap labor.”
Pardon me Dave — you DO realize that includes your hero DONALD TRUMP, don’t you? For starters, his clothing line (this includes the caps that bear his slogan “Make America Great Again”) is made in China, Mexico, and other overseas places where he can get away with paying DIRT CHEAP WAGES (i.e. < $2/hr.) and reaping ENORMOUS, OBSCENE PROFITS when the finished goods are shipped back to the U.S. market.
I think you are spot on about that.
“The church kept a lot of those priests working.” That sure reminds me when Faux was reminding somebody to tow the party (Faux) line or else.
Jeezus Christ on a popsicle stick!!
who has once again found it necessary to grace our pages with another ‘cut-n-paste’ that he found somewhere or was given. He has, as usual, the time to post this crap all over the internet. Obviously a paid troll…and a perfect example of the ‘stupid’ that typifies the Trump supporter.
What I’m about to say has nothing about me being left of center and you being obviously conservative. But you can’t be serious with anything you said. Please tell me it’s a tongue in cheek satire in the spirit of Steve Colbert.
Whatsoever the pundits say goes right over my head, and anything the TV anchors speak additionally about Donald Trump. It’s the people of our great country that matters and not the Pontiff, not Fox News, the Wall Street Journal poll. That I don’t trust this government or even any of the mainstream, Liberal oriented press. I am voting with millions of hard working Americans who have disregarded for the last 7 years, with little say in stopping the illegal alien invasion. The nominees for President are great at walking the walk and their great speeches. But when you break Trumps competition down, they have stayed relatively silent about these presidents’ executive orders, about illegal immigration and seem more complicit in their action. Trump spoke up from the beginning of the debates and that’s what the majority of the people wanted to hear—a forceful voice.
I never heard Senator Cruz say a word in his opening statement about the invaders. Rubio as these two competitors had a positive affection for Immigration Reform or amnesty that has not been focused on. When this administration gives less care to our Veterans and our Senior Citizens, but instead caters to illegal alien families, something is seriously wrong with a Democratic agenda. How can Congress resort to offering advantages to Syrian Refugees or other illegal immigrants when they tell the old people no rise in COLA this year? That unknown numbers of people are living on the edge of poverty?
As for the Republican class they seem to care for being reelected, and played along with Obama to give him everything he needed in the Omnibus budget of $$ two plus billion dollars. Not even hesitating when the funding would apply to the welfare of Syrian Refugees, and raising the cap on H-1B and special visas, just to keep their business crony’s happy. Have they soon forgotten there are 93 million American under/unemployed or just given up trying.
All Americans of any skin color, origin—Black, White, Hispanics, Asian and all minorities have been driven from their jobs, by insipid business owners that desire cheap labor. Trump doesn’t see any color, but he recognizes that all the promises from his Democratic and Republican Politicians, will get you nowhere? Across the country Trump has not segregated any particular ethnic group in building his empire. If they had the skill, they were hired to perform the work needed. Whereas Female or male it didn’t matter what the gender, they had equal rights in their profession, to rise to the top of the ladder.
Trump knows the damage that has been done to this country by the Politically Correct crowd and fully aware our future would be governed by the same politicians of the Leftist ideology, to control our lives by offering immense free programs as Bernie Sanders which feed us a good line every time? With both parties run by the Lobbyists for the inevitable Special Interests who want a return on their money Trump has a specific agenda and has paid his way through the launching himself into the melee for President. Jeb Bush has gone nowhere and fading fast, and I would think his money providers are not very happy?
My guess as we move deeper into the primaries, the attack ads and unethical maneuvers will get stronger and the dirt diggers will look for something in his life before politics. Fortunately trump has proven his resilience to the innuendo’s that have made no impression on him. Trump is a fighter and that’s what we need against soft bellied politicians or antagonists in foreign countries. He will be the strength and endurance for all Americans against the battles to come in Congress. First on his roster will be the complete eradication of every Obamas executive orders, then within months the towering wall will materialize between US and them at the Southern border. Then to be implemented is Mandated E-Verify that business doesn’t like as the illegal workers will start to vanish, as ICE begins new stringent audits. At ports of entry the scanning of individuals will gain momentum, when the biometric system is imposed and OVERSTAY’S become a thing of the past.
Trump is a straight shooter, without the lying formula from some of the contestants, and all the troubles such as renegotiating unfair trade agreements, job loss and companies transporting themselves to other countries will be resolved. Anything that he deems in good stead such as building a new military, the war with the fanatical ISIL, killing Obamacare, that is draining our resources and taking Birthright Citizenship to the Supreme Court to be determined once and for all, and anything that has divided this country. And above all else a return to the statutes of the Bill of Rights, return and make our nation great again.
The devil would have a large following of so-called religious leaders if he wrote a check to their ministries. All of them of religious frauds.
We laughed at Hannocchio when he said he was “raised Catholic.” Based on his troubled history, we find it hard to believe. Wearing a cross around ones neck and behaving like satan’s child is hypocritical.
The Stop Hannity Express says MJ is more of a Christian than her part-time husband. She deserves a better man than this Long Island Lolito. Yeah, we said it!
Nixon Trainee Ailes and Billy also call themselves “Catholic.” Based on the foul language coming from mouths, we highly doubt it.
NOTE TO JOURNALISTS/BLOGGERS
Hannocchio has re-visited the topic of pedophile priests in the Catholic Church. Contact every Catholic leader, including New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, and demand an explanation of why they hide these priests. Use Hannocchio’s quote from his show.
We don’t trust Dolan.
Sample headlines:
FOX’s Hannity slams Catholic church over pedophile priests
FOX’s Hannity calls out Catholic church leaders of pedophile priests
If you ask Sean or most right-wingers they’ll mouth the expected God comes first, next family, then whatever worldly things. In reality, foaming right-wingers on Fox News value politics first. Flip a coin between family and money.
For example, how many right-wingers raging over the politics swirling around Obamacare have said they will go without healthcare for them and their families before the will accept government health insurance?
Today the Pope is lumped in with pedophilia so his opinions can’t be trusted. Switch to him, say, attacking Hillary and Bernie for being pro-choice and Sean will rage His Holiness’ declarations prove all Democrats are evil and going straight to Hell. 👍
’Nuff said.
“… wherever they may be …”
That THE Donald may take offense is only par for the course for a megalomaniac who the bully he is, will probably PPPPPPPRRRRRT (the noise made by a deflating baloon or somebody filling his diaper) at the first meeting with a tyrant of any stripe.
Is anybody taking bets on when Donald will trade his current wife in for a newer model?
Has anybody on Fox (or anywhere else) expressed any sympathy for the hundreds or thousands of creditors who were shafted when Donald declared bankruptcy (four times !).
THE Pope! Duh!
.
I note that what the pope is quoted as saying is that such behavior is “not Christian,” but Fox and other right-wing media, and Trump, are distorting that to “not a Christian,” which is a very, very different thing.
And really, why is a supposed “devout Catholic” like Hannity bringing on two right-wing evangelicals who consider Catholicism it be satanism to discuss the pope, for crying out loud:?" OK, we know he has no integrity and no shame, but I thought this was particularly disgusting— and after devoting yet another half hour to yet another fawning interview of Trump himself.