I have always liked Michael Moriarty as an actor. So it was with happy surprise that I learned that Moriarty had penned (can we still say that?) an editorial at the conservative Big Hollywood.

Mr. Moriarty describes himself as a pro-life libertarian. While I certainly do not subscribe to the libertarian ethos, I maintain a soft spot for any public pro-lifer of any political persuasion (including democrats).

Libertarianism, while often aligned with conservatism on issues of the day, is a radically different philosophy. Leaving that aside, I do not think that Moriarty’s mental meanderings constitute an effective defense of any political philosophy. To suggest that his essay has entirely too many asides would, by implication, pose that there was a central point from which to veer. Alas, alack.

I think that Mr. Moriarty’s political instincts may be good, but his philosophy inconsistent. Moriarty, as part of his crusade against the “revolutionary tide” and in defense of the unborn, assails Chris Matthews for his badgering of Bishop Tobin. Like I said, his instincts are good. What follows, however…

Recently, in the best French Revolutionary tradition, that enlightened despot rode roughshod over a rather royal member of the Catholic Church who was defending Rome’s decision to excommunicate a Kennedy for supporting abortion.

Wha? Chris Matthew’s is an enlightened despot? He is a talk show host. Besides, the food channel’s “Ace of Cakes” has better ratings than Chris Matthews. He is hardly despot material. While Matthews is certainly in the tank for Obama, even Obama can only rightly be called a budding despot. But that is just the beginning of the trouble.

Moriarty suggests that Matthews was running roughshod over Bishop Tobin. He was, but that is what Matthews does and it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone, least of all Bishop Tobin. Hardball is not where one goes for a fair hearing. Moriarty then suggests that Bishop Tobin was there to defend “Rome’s decision” to “excommunicate” Patrick Kennedy.

Um, no and no.

Bishop Tobin was there to defend the Church’s consistent teaching on life and his decision two years ago to request that Congressman Kennedy refrain from communion until he changed his public stance on life. Nobody was excommunicated here and Rome had nothing to do with it.

That is a whole lotta wrong in just one sentence.

May God bless Mr. Moriarty for his defense of life, but I hope I am not unkind in suggesting that perhaps he is not the best spokesman for the cause.