It seems as though some media personalities never miss an opportunity to slam the Catholic Church. Take for example the July 18 Imus In The Morning on Fox Business, in which host Don Imus took an unnecessary swipe at Pope Francis and the sex abuse scandal surrounding the Catholic Church.
Speaking with Father Jonathan Morris, a regular Fox News contributor, Imus suggested that, “because of all the problems the church has had, he [should] get an ice cream truck," presumably making that crack because ice cream trucks are quite the draw for children. [See video after jump. MP3 audio here.]
For his part, Father Morris had begun the segment by praising the new Pope as someone who was:
Going to take an example in St. Francis and live a very simple life, and that's what he's been doing.
Morris then jokingly commented that:
He's making me a little nervous quite honestly. He’s chosen a 2008 Ford Focus. I'm driving a 2012 Toyota Highlander. It's getting complicated let’s put it that way.
Unfortunately, Imus couldn’t pass up an opportunity to slam the Pope, suggesting that the pontiff might want to get an “ice cream truck” to pick up boys. Pope Francis has condemned the horrific actions by a few priests, but Imus feels it not only necessary but appropriate to mock the sensitive subject to a Catholic priest's face. While Imus is known for making controversial statements, he is certainly not the first member of the media to openly smear the Catholic Church for laughs, and like others, will probably receive no punishment for his deplorable and tasteless joke.
See relevant transcript below.
Imus In The Morning
July 18, 2013
6:39 a.m. Eastern
DON IMUS: 21 until the hour please welcome to the program a Fox News contributor, Father Jonathan Morris. Father Jonathan, how are you?
JONATHAN MORRIS: Hey, good to see you, don.
IMUS: How -- you wee born and raised in Cleveland?
MORRIS: I was. Cleveland and also Ann Arbor, Michigan.
IMUS: Pardon me?
MORRIS: I was born in Cleveland and grew up mostly in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Midwest
IMUS: Okay, so you didn't stay in Cleveland long?
MORRIS: No, I didn't. No.
IMUS: You're laid back this morning. Let’s snap some energy out of you.
MORRIS: I'm just waiting for you to pounce.
IMUS: Pounce about what?
MORRIS: You usually come out pretty strong.
IMUS: Who, me? First of all let's talk about the pope. How’s he doing?
MORRIS: I mean you slammed Cleveland that was a start.
IMUS: I didn't slam Cleveland. I like Cleveland. I like Cleveland. I was in Cleveland for a couple of years.
MORRIS: Good place, good people.
IMUS: Yeah, so how is the new Pope doing, Pope Francis? That's his name?
MORRIS: That’s his name. That’s the name he took. His name was Jorge Bergolio but he took Francis. He's a Jesuit, maybe this doesn't mean much to a lot of people, but there’s Franciscans and then there are Jesuits and for a Jesuit to take the name "Francis" which is after St. Francis a Franciscan, what he was doing is showing that he was kind of a guy for all of us, not just for his order of Jesuits, but, rather he was going to take an example in St. Francis and live a very simple life, and that's what he's been doing. He's making me a little nervous quite honestly. He’s chosen a 2008 Ford Focus. I'm driving a 2012 Toyota Highlander. It's getting complicated let’s put it that way.
IMUS: I suggested because of all the problems the church has had he get an ice cream truck but nobody thought that was amusing. Probably not you either.
MORRIS: I’m trying to think the best of you Don.
