Wednesday on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight, Morgan interviewed GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum. The host spent considerable time on Santorum's views on homosexuality. Confirming the candidate is a Catholic, Morgan asked if he believes homosexuality is a sin. Santorum stated he subscribes to his Church's teaching that it is. Morgan asked how Santorum would react to learning one of his sons is gay and after listening to his response:
MORGAN: I guess one of the reasons it's troubling and difficult for people to come out is because of the level of bigotry that's out there against them. I have to say that your views you espoused on this issue are bordering on bigotry, aren't they?
So an orthodox Roman Catholic who adheres to his faith's determination that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered" borders on bigotry. Not Morgan, however:
MORGAN: Well, I'm a Catholic, too. I just think, unfortunately, we're in a different era. We're in a modern world. And the fact --
Morgan didn't say why he thinks it's unfortunate we're in a different era or why he claims to be a Catholic while rejecting Church teaching, but he didn't really need to. Fellow CNN anchors were prepared to do the heavy lifting.
On today's American Morning, a clip was played of Santorum saying, in part, "Piers Morgan called me a bigot because I believe what the Catholic Church teaches with respect to homosexuality, I'm a bigot." Anchors Carol Costello and Ali Velshi were not going to let that go unchallenged:
COSTELLO: In all fairness Piers did not call Santorum a bigot but said we live in a different era and views about moment sexuality (sic) have certainly changed.
VELSHI: That was their point of disagreement where Piers said, I'm also Catholic and I think these views should evolve. Rick Santorum says I don't think that's true. But that was the extent of it in the interview. So if you didn't watch the interview, you just watched that second part, you may think it was a different interview.
Ah, so the Church's views on homosexuality should evolve because Piers Morgan believes they should. Someone had better get the word to Pope Benedict XVI pronto. At the same time, perhaps Costello can explain how saying someone's views border on bigotry isn't the same as saying he's a bigot. Don't tell me there's a strict constructionist at CNN, even if it only pertains to grammar.
