{{Short description|American journalist (born 1972)}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Priest | honorific_prefix = | name = Jonathan Morris | image = | caption = | ordination = December 24, 2002 | ordained_by = [[Leonardo Sandri]] | laicized = {{Ubl | May 2019 | by [[Pope Francis]]}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|8|22}} | birth_place = [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], US | denomination = [[Catholic Church]] | occupation = [[Catholic priest]] (laicized), author, [[television personality]] | spouse = {{marriage|Kaitlyn Folmer|2020}} }} '''Jonathan Morris''' (born August 22, 1972) is an American author, actor, commentator on religious matters in the media who has been a [[Fox News]] contributor and analyst since 2005. He formerly served as a [[Priesthood (Catholic Church)|Catholic priest]], first in the [[Legionaries of Christ]] and later as a [[secular clergy|secular priest]] in the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York|Archdiocese of New York]]. In 2019, he requested [[loss of clerical state (Catholic Church)|dispensation from the clerical state]].
== Biography == Born in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], the third of seven children, Morris studied [[business administration]] at [[Franciscan University of Steubenville]] in Ohio, where he served as vice president of the University Student Government.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
At the age of 21, he entered the seminary and studied in Rome, Italy, gaining degrees in the classical humanities, philosophy, and theology. He was ordained a priest in the order of the [[Legion of Christ]] in 2002, and continued living and working in Rome. In 2004, he obtained a graduate Licentiate degree in moral theology from [[Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum]], ''[[magna cum laude]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/ministering-in-the-media-spotlight |title=Ministering in the media spotlight |last=Armstrong |first=Patti |date=October 31, 2014 |newspaper=[[National Catholic Register]] |access-date=May 19, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709201253/http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/ministering-in-the-media-spotlight |archive-date=July 9, 2018 }}</ref>
In 2009, Morris left the Legion of Christ and joined the Archdiocese of New York as a diocesan priest. He then served as [[parochial vicar]] of [[St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, New York|Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral]] in the [[Soho]] neighborhood of [[New York City]].<ref>[http://www.oldcathedral.org/pdf/BULLETIN-2009-12-20.pdf St. Patrick's Old Cathedral Bulletin] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229055224/http://www.oldcathedral.org/pdf/BULLETIN-2009-12-20.pdf |date=2009-12-29 }} Retrieved 27 December 2009</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldcathedral.org/pdf/BULLETIN-2009-06-28.pdf|work=St. Patrick's Old Cathedral|title=Bulletin for June 28, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207181726/http://oldcathedral.org/pdf/BULLETIN-2009-06-28.pdf|archive-date=December 7, 2012}}</ref> In 2013, he was transferred to [[Corpus Christi Church (New York City)|Corpus Christi Church]] in [[Manhattan]] to serve as a chaplain at [[Columbia University]] and to be the program director of The Catholic Channel on [[SiriusXM]] radio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corpus-christi-nyc.org/staff/|work=Corpus Christi Church in New York City|title=Meet our Staff|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007092942/http://www.corpus-christi-nyc.org/staff/|archive-date=2013-10-07}}</ref>
In February 2015, Morris became pastor of [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel's Church (Bronx)|The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel]], located on East 187th St. in [[the Bronx]].
In May 2019, while on [[sabbatical]], Morris announced that he had decided to request [[loss of clerical state (Catholic Church)|dispensation from the clerical state]] after having: {{cquote|struggled for years with [his] vocation and the commitments that the Catholic priesthood demands, especially not being able to marry and raise a family.<ref name=sanmartin>{{cite web |url=https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/05/17/ex-legionary-fox-news-personality-asks-to-leave-the-priesthood/ |title=Ex-Legionary, Fox News personality asks to leave the priesthood |last=San Martin |first=Inés |date=May 17, 2019 |website=cruxnow.com |publisher=Crux |access-date=May 18, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517201517/https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/05/17/ex-legionary-fox-news-personality-asks-to-leave-the-priesthood/ |archive-date=May 17, 2019}}</ref><ref name=morris20190517>{{cite web |url=https://cruxnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Morris-statement.pdf| title=Morris statement | last=Morris |first=Jonathan |date=2019-05-17 |website=cruxnow.com |publisher=Crux |access-date=2019-05-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518132548/https://cruxnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Morris-statement.pdf |archive-date=2019-05-18}}</ref> I have decided to ask the Holy Father, [[Pope Francis]], to release me from the duties and responsibilities of the clerical state (priestly vows). Taking this step is something I have considered often and at length in years past and discussed with my spiritual guides. ... My decision is not about an existing relationship, but rather about the peace and spiritual freedom I trust will come in the future by following God’s will for my life now.<ref name=morris20190517/>}} His request was approved by Pope Francis. [[Cardinal Timothy Dolan]] had granted Morris' request to be removed from active ministry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jonathan-morris-my-decision-to-leave-the-catholic-priesthood|title=My decision to leave the Catholic priesthood|first=Jonathan|last=Morris|date=June 10, 2019|website=[[Fox News]]|quote=Cardinal Timothy Dolan, graciously helped me through the first steps of the dispensation process. Upon my request, he has officially suspended my exercise of sacred ministry.}}</ref>
===Post-priesthood=== Shortly after leaving the priesthood, Morris co-founded Morris & Larson Advisors, an [[Business coaching|executive coaching]] firm. Morris continues to work as a contributor for Fox News.<ref>{{cite web|first=Victoria|last=Garcia|title=Jonathan Morris announces engagement year after leaving priesthood: 'I'm so grateful to God'|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/jonathan-morris-announces-engagement.amp|website=[[Fox News]]|date=July 16, 2020|accessdate=January 1, 2021}}</ref>
In July 2020, Morris announced he was engaged to 37-year-old Kaitlyn Folmer, a reporter with [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]. The couple were married in October 2020, at [[St. Patrick's Cathedral (Manhattan)|St Patrick's Cathedral]] in [[New York City]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/style/she-married-the-priest.amp.html|title=She Married The Priest|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Vincent M.|last=Mallozzi|date=November 13, 2020|accessdate=January 1, 2021}}</ref>
== Work == From 2002 to 2004, Morris worked as a theological adviser in the making of [[Mel Gibson]]'s motion picture ''[[The Passion of the Christ]].'' <ref name="ReferenceA">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928055538/https://secure.franciscan.edu/home2/Content/Campuslife/main.aspx?id=988&cc=336 Behind the Scenes: At the Heart of 'The Passion'] April 2, 2004 Retrieved March 2, 2007</ref>
During the final illness of [[Pope John Paul II]] in March 2005, and his death the following 5 April, Morris provided reports and analysis for [[CNN]], the [[Fox News|Fox News Channel]], the [[BBC]], and [[Sky News]], and he was interviewed by [[Bill Hemmer]], [[Larry King]], [[Shepard Smith]], [[Anderson Cooper]], and [[Christiane Amanpour]], among others. Shortly thereafter, Morris received offers from several networks to contribute follow-up reports, and he began working for the Fox News Channel. In accepting the offer to work with the network, he proposed to cover not just Vatican news events, but to also analyze wider news stories from an ethical dimension.<ref>[http://www.al.com/press-register/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/120436652576060.xml&coll=3 Go Ahead. Be a Hero.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609064351/http://www.al.com/press-register/stories/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews%2F120436652576060.xml&coll=3 |date=2011-06-09 }} Retrieved May 27, 2008</ref>
Since April 2005, Morris' work has expanded to include reports beyond the scope of the Vatican. He has been interviewed on several Fox News Channel programs, including ''[[Fox & Friends]]'', ''[[Dayside]]'', ''[[Hannity and Colmes]]'', ''[[The Live Desk (U.S. TV program)|The Live Desk]]'' with [[Martha MacCallum]], and ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]''. He has also contributed to the ''[[Fox Business Network]]'' and Fox News.com's on-line news roundtable, ''The Strategy Room''.
Morris began a recurring segment for Fox News Channel's late night news/comedy show ''[[Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld|Red Eye]]'' in May 2009. For this segment, called ''Father Knows Best,'' Morris answered questions from viewers on religious and faith-related issues. He was also a regular news contributor for the show. That same year, he also became a contributor to ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jonathan|last=Morris|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203863204574348703505285632|title=A Different Kind of Miracle on the Hudson|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=August 14, 2009|accessdate=May 19, 2008}}</ref>
In March 2010, Morris was interviewed as a theological adviser for the [[History (U.S. TV channel)|History Channel]] special ''The Real Face of Jesus?'', a documentary that followed a team of computer and [[3D computer graphics|3D]] specialists as they uncovered forensic data from the [[Shroud of Turin]], extrapolating a new picture of the face of the man from the shroud.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insideedition.com/418-the-real-face-of-jesus|title=The Real Face of Jesus?|website=[[Inside Edition]]|date=March 29, 2010|accessdate=July 16, 2021}}</ref>
In 2012 Morris became the program director of [[The Catholic Channel]] on [[Sirius XM Satellite Radio]], a position he held until 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=Father Morris leaves helm of Sirius XM's Catholic Channel|url=http://www.catholicsun.org/2015/01/12/father-morris-leaves-helm-of-sirius-xms-catholic-channel/|access-date=2 April 2015|newspaper=[[The Catholic Sun]]|date=12 January 2015}}</ref>
Morris has written ''[[The Promise: God's Purpose and Plan for When Life Hurts]]'' and ''God Wants You Happy: From Self-Help to God's Help''. His newest book is ''The Way of Serenity: Finding Peace and Happiness in the Serenity Prayer''.
In 2019, Morris appeared as [[Frank Sheeran]]’s priest at the nursing home in the film ''[[The Irishman]]'', starring [[Robert De Niro]], [[Al Pacino]], and [[Joe Pesci]].<ref>{{cite news|first=John Aidan|last=Byrne|url=https://nypost.com/2019/12/07/bronx-priest-finds-fame-opposite-robert-de-niro-in-the-irishman/|title=Bronx priest finds fame opposite Robert De Niro in 'The Irishman'|newspaper=[[New York Post]]|date=December 7, 2019|accessdate=July 16, 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|35em}}
== External links == *[http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/personalities/father-jonathan-morris/bio/#s=m-q Fox News profile]
{{portal bar|Biography|Catholicism|New York}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Jonathan}} [[Category:21st-century American Roman Catholic priests]] [[Category:Laicized Roman Catholic priests]] [[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]] [[Category:American reporters and correspondents]] [[Category:American religious writers]] [[Category:21st-century American male actors]] [[Category:Religious leaders from Cleveland]] [[Category:Franciscan University of Steubenville alumni]] [[Category:Legionaries of Christ]] [[Category:People of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York]] [[Category:Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum alumni]] [[Category:Former members of Catholic religious institutes]] [[Category:American bloggers]] [[Category:Fox News people]] [[Category:SiriusXM Radio people]] [[Category:Journalists from Ohio]] [[Category:1972 births]] [[Category:Living people]]