Florida Catholic | Fighting the ‘culture wars’

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Father Jonathan Morris, Legionaries of Christ priest and analyst for Fox News, will release his new book this month which tackles the problem of why God permits human suffering. Father Morris will speak in Miami April 12 at the annual Respect Life luncheon.

Fighting the ‘culture wars’

Father Jonathan Morris imparts ‘spiritual perspective’ as Fox News analyst.

ANNE DIBERNARDO | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 04.04.08

MIAMI | Remember caricatures of dueling angels perched on the shoulder of some poor soul contemplating temptation? One of them holds a pitchfork; the other wears a halo.

Father Jonathan Morris is no cartoon, but the Legionaries of Christ priest is at the heart of the cultural wars, representing the bright angel with the halo as a Fox News contributor who helps viewers understand the news from a godly perspective.

Father Morris, who served as Mel Gibson’s theological adviser on the set of “The Passion of the Christ,” will be the keynote speaker at the annual respect life awards luncheon to be held April 12 at Signature Gardens in Miami.

“The cost is $25 per person and proceeds will be used to help purchase ultrasound equipment for the new Sunset Drive respect life office,” said Joan Crown, archdiocesan respect life director.

The goal each year is to educate luncheon guests by bringing in a noted speaker on a relevant subject. “Because it is an election year, this year’s theme is ‘The Battle for the American Soul,’” Crown said.

“There is a battle for the soul of the world, in particular the soul of the United States, because of the role of leadership the United States is playing,” Father Morris said, echoing the sentiments of John Paul II in his 1994 best-seller “Crossing the Threshold of Hope.”

Father Morris said different social trends express the good and the bad side of the battle.

“I am trying to illustrate for everyone to see the importance of fighting for the good, and the consequences of the battle for generations to come,” said the priest, whose signature approach is straightforward, yet kind and positive — always reminding people that Christ will be victorious in the end.

Father Morris was introduced to the media while working on the set of “The Passion of the Christ.” He also worked as an adviser with the grassroots promotion of the film in the United States and Europe.

During the final illness of Pope John Paul II in 2005, news organizations were looking for expert commentators, and so began Father Morris’ work as a religious news analyst for domestic and international networks. After the death of John Paul II and the conclave that elected his successor, Fox News asked Father Morris to stay on board.

“I said that I was not interested in being a Vatican analyst,” he recalled. “I was trained as a moral theologian in the area of ethics, which is broader than just pondering the analysis of the Vatican.”

His argument was engaging enough to convince the Fox Network to create an exclusive position for him to comment on the news from an ethical and moral perspective.

“Real news is news that is multidimensional and an important dimension is ethical, moral, spiritual and religious, as opposed to viewing news as though it is just two-dimensional — economical and political,” Father Morris said. “The world is not two dimensional; there is more to life than politics. As human beings, God made us thirsty for the truth. Priests have a responsibility to talk about real life and provide guidance about real life, not just about the liturgical calendar.”

Working as a priest in a secular environment has been particularly rewarding, Father Morris said, because he embraces the opportunity to help people understand the realities of life from a spiritual realm.

“It is a much more spiritual approach … taking them one step closer to understanding the truth,” he said. “God is so patient with us and I try to take that into account and explain news from a godly perspective. I try to give people reasons for believing and motivation for understanding, rather than saying this is what you have to do.”

“I embrace this environment,” Father Morris added. “That is what Jesus did — he hung out with everyone.”

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