The DSM IV describes paranoia as "a pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent." As such, Bill O'Reilly would appear to be the poster boy for paranoia with his almost constant refrain about how "Judeo-Christianity" is under attack. And as part of his obsession with the non-existent war on Christians (which the "war on Christmas is part of) perpetrated by evil secularists, he has no anointed himself the defender of Christianity and that suggests some serious messianic delusions. Last night, O'Reilly not only ranted about how "Judeo-Christian" tradition is under attack; but he urged Protestant ministers (rabbis not included) to join Bill in fighting his hysterical and very paranoid crusade. (Bill already admonished the Catholic clergy to man-up). In non-clinical terms, dude needs a check up from the neck up cuz he's doing some seriously crazy talk.

In talking with Mike Huckabee, O'Reilly echoed the outrage of the Christian right over the cancellation of a stage adaptation of the "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown" TV show that was the center of a controversy that Fox News took national. The play was going to be performed, for local public school students, at a Christian church. Some parents objected because they felt that the religious content and the venue was a violation of the separation of church and state. But Bill didn't mention that parents complained. He was almost frothing at the mouth when, after reporting that the church has planned the play, the Arkansas Association of Free Thinkers complained that this was a violation of the establishment clause or "the separation of Charlie Brown and state" (hardeharha). He added that the church pastor, Happy Caldwell, cancelled the play.

Waving his finger, Pope Bill said that "he wasn't happy about Happy" and then chastised the pastor for canceling the play. Huckabee said the play is going to take place on Saturday and it will be voluntary. (And the problem with that is???) Bill told a Christmas lie by saying that the school was going to send the kids to the play anyway. FACT CHECK - attendance was optional but parents complained that those kids who were not going to attend would be subjected to harassment. He pontificated that "there's nothing wrong going to a theater on church grounds" without mentioning that the school, in its notice to parents, noted that there was Christian content. Bill whined that the pastor "didn't stand up" and that "guys like the pastor have to stand up and fight against this secular progressivism that wants to diminish the Christmas holiday". Once again, it was parents who didn't want their kids to be exposed, on the taxpayer dime, to Christian beliefs. Ever the pugilist, Bill said "we have to fight back against these people."

After Huckabee said that it's not in the nature of Christianity to fight, Bill said "you're gonna lose." When Huckabee said that the pastor didn't want to incur a legal fight for the school, O'Reilly said that they have laywers on retainers and that the Thomas More Society would have defended them for free. Bill continued to bray about how ministers need to fight back because it's their "duty." Huckabee validated Bill by saying that they should fight against "the secular take-over" and claimed that "Christians are treated differently than most other faith groups." (Yep, Christians are so persecuted and even maligned on a national "news network" - oh, right, I got confused, it's Muslims who are maligned on Fox News.)

So there you have it folks. Bill O'Reilly, in the spirit of the medieval Pope Urban, has called a new crusade for ministers to join him in fighting evil secularists who are forcing church closings and harassing clergy. Oh, right, that's not happening except in the fevered and paranoid mind of Bill O'Reilly.