Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Donald Norcross

Democrat on Welcoming Reverend Jon Thomas 2026-07-16

154 words · 9 sentences · 10 clauses

Statement grade

Average 78 / 100

A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.

Greeting 14%Claims 77%Thanks 10%

This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.

Mr. Speaker, Greeting · 21 wordsI am honored to welcome guest chaplain, Father Jon Thomas, priest and vicar general of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.¹Greeting Claims · 118 wordsHe was born and raised in south Jersey and educated at Catholic University right here in D.C.²³ Father Jon was ordained in 2010 and has since served the parishes across south Jersey.⁴ As pastor in Atlantic City, he provided assistance and spiritual guidance to the workers in the hospitality industry in Atlantic City.⁵ Since 2020, he has served as pastor of Christ the King in Haddonfield.⁶ The year I met him, he was hosting a virtual mass for frontline workers who were, during the pandemic, being challenged.Hidden agency Since 2022, he has served as chaplain to the New Jersey AFL-CIO.⁷ In 2025, he was appointed vicar general of the Diocese of Camden, serving roughly 475,000 Catholics across south Jersey.⁸⁹ Thanks · 15 wordsI thank Father Thomas for the prayer, the call for unity, and to our community.Thanks

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 75

3 of 4 deductions are Signal

Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.

Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “I am honored to welcome guest chaplain, Father Jon Thomas, priest and vicar general of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I thank Father Thomas for the prayer, the call for unity,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and to our community.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · no score

Not applicable: nothing to answer. Excluded from the average.

Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue.

Respect · no score

Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.

Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.

Clarity · 81

1 of 4 deductions are Clarity

Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.

Wording that hides who did something, or who will.What the tags mean “being challenged”A passive with no actor obscures who or what was challenging frontline workers during the pandemic.

Claims · 9

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

1“Father Jon Thomas, priest and vicar general of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden”Reverend Jon Thomas is a priest and vicar general of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.search
2“born and raised in south Jersey”Jon Thomas was born and raised in south Jersey.search
3“educated at Catholic University”Jon Thomas was educated at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.search
4“Father Jon was ordained in 2010”Jon Thomas was ordained a priest in 2010.search
5“As pastor in Atlantic City”Jon Thomas served as a pastor in Atlantic City.search
6“Since 2020, he has served as pastor of Christ the King in Haddonfield”Jon Thomas has served as pastor of Christ the King parish in Haddonfield, New Jersey since 2020.search
7“Since 2022, he has served as chaplain to the New Jersey AFL-CIO”Jon Thomas has served as chaplain to the New Jersey AFL-CIO since 2022.search
8“In 2025, he was appointed vicar general of the Diocese of Camden”Jon Thomas was appointed vicar general of the Diocese of Camden in 2025.search
9“serving roughly 475,000 Catholics across south Jersey”The Diocese of Camden serves roughly 475,000 Catholics across south Jersey.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15