User:TomUSA/Father Pontifex

Claude Burns (born 1972), better known by his stage name Father Pontifex, is an American Roman Catholic priest and hip hop artist from Evansville, Indiana.

Biography
Pontifex was born as Claude Burns in 1972. He was raised in the Roman Catholic faith, but apparently "drifted away" for a while and began attending a non-denominational Christian youth group.

Music career
Pontifex began rapping at age 17 in 1989 in a rap group called The Agape Crew. He later on felt he was called to be a priest in the Catholic Church, and didn't rap for a while but kept up with hip hop music and the rest of the scene. Pontifex was ordained in 2002. In 2002 Pontifex was introduced to Dustin Sieber, a producer from Phatmass, a Catholic hip hop record label. Sieber signed Pontifex to the label and had him write and perform a song on a Massmatics mixtape called "The Son Still Shines".

On August 24, 2011 Father Pontifex released his first studio album Ordained. The album recieved good reception.

In response to the video "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus" Pontifex lashed back at the video on February 18, 2012 by posting "Why I Love Religion, And Love Jesus". His other video, "We Hold These Truths" was released on March 7, 2012.

Activism
Father Pontifex promotes activism in his music and is an activist himself. Most of his views come from a Catholic standpoint, and from a priest's standpoint as well. He has recently spoken against contraception, and he is also a member of the pro-life movement.

Musical style
Father Pontifex has a wide range of musical influences which include Bob Dylan, 3rd Bass, Run-DMC, A Tribe Called Quest, Gangstarr, EPMD, The Roots, Matisyahu, Mumford and Sons, Dave Matthews, and Deepspace 5. Father Pontifex has also shown praise for fellow rapper and Catholic priest Stan Fortuna, saying he is "an incredible musician."

Father Pontifex is overall an activist in his music, and evangelizes the word of Catholicism and Catholic views in his music. Otherwise, he raps about priesthood and life as a Catholic priest.

Discography

 * Studio albums
 * Ordained (2011)