O'Leary's Choice

A respected California priest, Fr. Brian O’Leary, is suspended from active ministry pending the resolution of spurious criminal charges brought against him by the lawfare wielding Attorney General, Carl Lozito, the unscrupulous Democratic gubernatorial candidate heavily favored to win November’s general election for governor. Shortly before his suspension, Fr. O’Leary meets and is befriended by a mysterious stranger, Rich Appleby, actually the incognito Renzo, an Elvis like world-famous rock ‘n roll superstar desperately longing for privacy. When a financial scandal necessitates the sudden withdrawal of the presumed Republican candidate from the race for state governor, Beverly Anderon, the beautiful attorney representing him in both the civil and criminal litigation and Renzo persuade the priest to run for governor in his place. The argument: without a Republican candidate heading the ticket, California’s down ballot Congressional races will be lost, sacrificing the party’s hopes to win control in the US House of Representatives. Reluctantly, Fr. O’Leary accepts, and the long shot gubernatorial campaign “Father Knows Best’ is launched. Introducing religion and morality into the gubernatorial campaign, Fr. O’Leary offers thoughtful compromises on the culturally contentious ‘bookends of life’ issues – abortion and capital punishment. The issues are dramatized through the life and death of Christina Daniels, a young, pregnant women compassionately counseled by Fr. O’Leary. Christina is also the daughter of the police officer responsible for the arrest and conviction of a mass murderer, Jose Suarez, who seeks to avenge his life sentence. Politician or priest – eventually, Fr. O’Leary must choose.