For the record its FATHER Pfleger, that is important Rev. implies its a crazy Black pastor. . .

[wndycty]

. . .FATHER Pfleger is a white CATHOLIC PRIEST. He is an activist, sometimes he goes to extremes.

When folks her Rev. Pfleger said it they will assume its some crazy Black preacher, when they hear FATHER Pfleger is a white Catholic priest it might impact and temper the reaction.

Phleger was an idiot and should have known better to spout off like that (while I don't take issue with what he said I wish he was smart enough not to feed the controversy mongers).

[Mezzo]

1. we catholics use both, so you're wrong. It's Rev Pfleger sweets.

[Teaser]

7. Father is the most common usage

and you should know that, being Catholic.

[WinkyDink]

29. This Catholic is totally unfamiliar with anything other than "Father".

Father, Monsignor, Bishop, etc.

[zanne]

33. You must have a very strange Catholic parish. nt

[monomach]

43. I'm an atheist, but my wife is a die-hard Holy Roman

...and no one that I've met from her Church has ever called a Catholic Priest "Reverend."

[Ian David]

2. My goodness... he's White.

[wndycty]

4. And unfortunately that matters. When you hear Obama Pastor Reverend you think Black and crazy. . .

. . .as a Black man I'm very sensitive to that. I think "Pastor or Rev. Pfleger" gets a certain reaction, Father Pfleger gets a different reaction. Seriously think about that.

[NashVegas]

23. I Think This Will Be Perceived As Worse Than Wright, Actually

With Wright, I can go, "well it's a black church and that's their thing."

With this guy I have the same "aw, dude, DON'T," feeling I have whenever I'm out and around a white person who gets introduced to a black person and immediately starts talking about how much they love George Clinton & Miles Davis, you know?

I might feel differently if I were an Obama supporter.

[JoFerret]

39. Religiosity

and ranting come in all flavors.

[hokies4ever]

5. Did someone burst your prejudicial bubble?

"I thought that only black preachers..." :rofl:

[Ian David]

13. I was making an ironic reference to an anti-discrimination radio PSA...

and making sure people are aware that this isn't a crazy black preacher, but a crazy white priest.

[zanne]

6. I'm Catholic and I've never heard "Father" replaced by "reverend". nt

[globalvillage]

9. me neither

If I had ever called a priest Reverend so-and-so, I'm pretty sure I'd have been corrected.

[NashVegas]

10. It's the More Formal Address

"THE Reverend Father blah blah blah" becomes "Father blah blah blah" when you're hanging out. It's usually the senior pastor of a church.

Not gonna tell me you've never heard "Reverend Mother" have you?

On edit - I just now saw the clipping - note how he is indeed the senior pastor.

[MethuenProgressive]

21. It's added more often for priests who are members of mendicant or monastic orders

As in The Reverend Father So-and-So.

[zanne]

27. I've heard of "the Reverend Father", but never just "reverend". nt

[Clark2008]

24. And very Irish looking, no?

[JVS]

38. Or maybe German, as his name would indicate.

Pfleger is German for care taker.

[Ian David]

3. Who could possibly forsee the possibility that...

... someone who believes they have an invisible friend in the sky might say something crazy?

[WildEyedLiberal]

20. Wow, that's nasty

You do realize you're sporting the avatar of someone who believes he has an "invisible friend in the sky," don't you? Do you not trust his intelligence or judgment either?

:thumbsdown:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

25. And 89% of voters also have a friend of some kind...

According to the Baylor Religion Survey, only about 10% of Americans are atheist or have no religious affiliation.

So insulting the intelligence of an overwhelming majority of the voting public might not be the most effective campaign strategy.

Just sayin'...

[Ian David]

35. Not as much as I trust someone like Michael Shermer or James Randi.

But since Atheists are the single-most hated minority in this country, polling lower in every poll than everyone else, I feel I have both license and cause to gripe.

[WildEyedLiberal]

36. "Griping" != belitting the intelligence of 90% of the country

Making snide remarks about "imaginary sky friends" and how anyone who believes in God is neither rational nor sane isn't going to win atheists a lot of friends. I am sympathetic to the intolerance you face, but at the same time, hateful rhetoric will only alienate people. It has never occurred to me to think any less of someone for their disbelief in God, but I sure do resent being told that I'm irrational or stupid.

[Ian David]

37. Obama says his imaginary friend is the reason why he's against Marriage Equality. n/t

[WildEyedLiberal]

42. Plenty of people with "imaginary friends" are for marriage equality

But by all means, keep insulting them.

This attitude is why the term "fundamentalist atheist" was coined. It's not a compliment.

[Enrique]

8. does Obama have any wacky rabbis supporting him?

seems like something that's bound to come up.

[Ian David]

14. Joe LIEberman's step-son. n/t

[sfam]

11. Here's a thought - how bout we go back to separation of church and state...

I'm truly tired of watching insane crazy-ass pastors on the right and left dominating my political coverage. All we've learned from all this is that many pastors and reverends are as loony as many commentators, but they tend to shout louder.

Can we just keep them away from politics, please?

I was quite happy watching my non-stop Scott McClellan talking points 24/7.

[NashVegas]

12. May Explain Why Some Evangelicals Say They Won't Be Active This Election?

Maybe they don't want anyone bringing the cameras into their megachurches.

[wndycty]

15. Well a man or woman of the cloth, any cloth, preaching about politics does not violate. . .

. . .the separation of church and state.

[sfam]

17. Speaking from a pulpit in support of a specific candidate is in fact a violation of...

the separation of church and state. This is a great way to lose your tax-exempt status. And maybe its just me, but I don't remember every election being Crazy-man church hour. I kinda would like it to end. Like now. I don't really want to hear a pastor's views on Hitler, or whether Hillary was lying or not, or whether they think McCain is a righteous dude.

[terrya]

40. YES

What the fuck is a Catholic priest doing getting involved in a Presidential campaign like this, anyway?

This is the kind of thing that SHOULD have the Catholic Church's tax exempt status taken away. Or any other church who engages in blantant political posturing.

[MethuenProgressive]

16. His email address is [e-mail]

According http://www.reentrymediaoutreach.org/pdfs/toserve_viewers_guide.pdf and http://riverdaughter.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/im-sure-they-mean-well/

I'm sure DU's Obama supporters would like to send him a thank-you email.

(DU rules state:
"You may post the public contact information for public figures,")

[sfam]

19. Dear pastor, thanks for fucking up Obama's Big Mo...

Thanks...thanks a lot.

[indimuse]

41. oooooooooo.....

Thanks MP! :hi:

[ecstatic]

18. What bugs me is that MSM skipped over Parsley, Hagee, Falwell, Robertson

Need evidence of racist double standards? Simply observe how Parsley, Hagee, and McCain were given a pass while the media continues to focus on Obama's church!

[JohnnyLib2]

22. OMG, I agree with the OP!!

We have priests in the extended family. I support Clinton. I am a Democrat. I want a Democratic administration. And I think the OP makes an important, though very touchy, point.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

26. I did a double-take when I saw his picture...

From the headlines, I assumed it was another radical African American pastor -- they made a point to say that it happened in Obama's Church (He has his own religion? Cool!) and so I assume that it was the successor to Jeremiah Wright and that he was just as incendiary.

[wndycty]

28. It does make a difference once people realize he is a white Catholic priest

:kick:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

30. Your subject

line is offensive.

Why did you have to stick "Black" in there?

[wndycty]

31. Because as a Black man myself I'm very aware of how words are used. . .

. . .by calling him Rev. it plays into the hands of the bigots who have a dislike of the Black church. By calling him by his true title, Father, many folks would look at this issue differently. The New York Post waiting 4 paragraphs before acknowledging he was a priest.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

32. You are so on point! Revs are black and fucking crazy. Priests are white and misspeak! Right on!

[wndycty]

34. Exactly. . .his title is Father but the MSM is calling him Rev. . .

. . .what is their motivation.