The FFRF Action Fund bestows its “Secularist of the Week” award to writer Wajahat Ali for his recent confrontation with extremist pastor Doug Wilson on a recent “Piers Morgan Uncensored” episode.
During an appearance on Morgan’s show, Ali, a prominent writer and podcast host, chastised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s personal pastor. Wilson is notorious for his extreme misogynistic and racist beliefs, and, of course, for refuting the existence of the separation between state and church. While discussing the war in Iran, President Trump’s jabs at Pope Leo XIV and an increasingly fractured Republican base, Ali turned his criticism toward Wilson and his spiritual guidance of Hegseth.
“Listen real quick, pastor,” Ali said. “I have no problem attacking wolves in sheep’s clothing. I have no problem attacking a man who wrote that American slavery was mutually harmonious between the slave master and the slave. That’s you.”
“I have no problem attacking a man who proudly says he wants to do away with the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote,” he continued. “I have no problem attacking a man like yourself who sits here incoherently supporting an incoherent, unwinnable, illegal war in Iran. I have no problem attacking you, a man who is the religious leader of Pete Hegseth, a man who’s a cosplay crusader who’s leading some type of crusade.”
“Probably you put him on as secretary of defense, getting Americans and innocent civilians killed. I wish you would be a better Christian. I wish you would open up the bible,” Ali further stated.
Ali then turned to his own religious background, asserting, “I wish you would meet the Jesus that I met when I went to an all-boys Jesuit Catholic high school. The Jesus that took care of the sick, that took care of the poor, that welcomed the immigrant, that welcomed the marginalized, that helped them. But instead, you’ve used Jesus as a mascot for, I don’t know, your white Christian supremacy, your cruelty, your misogyny.”
“And I’m so glad that people are finally waking up to your cruelty,” Ali concluded. “And to the idiocy of your star disciple, Pete Hegseth, who keeps messing up and literally does not read the bible and quotes ‘Pulp Fiction.’ Just sit with them. Maybe both of you can read the Constitution, read the bible, and just take a break, pastor.”
Ali posted his confrontation with Wilson to X, adding the caption, “I had some words for Cosplay Crusader @PeteHegseth and his Pastor Doug Wilson, who doesn’t believe in the 19th Amendment or the separation of Church and State. Thanks to my Jesuit High School for teaching me the Bible.”
Listen to Ali’s full remarks here.
Alongside a Substack venture titled “The Left Hook,” Ali also co-hosts the podcast “democracy-ish” and has been a New York Times contributing op-ed writer and a columnist for The Daily Beast and The Progressive magazine.
FFRF Action Fund heartily thanks Ali for confronting Wilson. His references to his personal religious background will resonate with many religious Americans who are allies of the fundamental separation between state and church. All Americans must be made aware of Wilson’s extremist, dangerous beliefs and his personal connections to the Trump administration through Hegseth.
FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues.