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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSantorum Wins Over Evangelicals By Breaking With His Own Catholic Creed
As a Catholic I get so offended by Santorum's "platform" and his claiming that his views are supported by the Catholic Church.
"Republican presidential contender Rick Santorum is a darling of the Christian right, and made a tremendous showing among evangelicals in the Iowa caucuses. But Santorum himself is a Catholic, and while many of his more socially conservative positions have endeared him to the evangelical community, they actually conflict with the teachings of his own church. The theological tensions in Santorum's record pose potential political problems for his candidacy: Can he bring Catholics into his camp despite advocating unorthodox positions? And can he maintain his reputation among conservative Christians as a principled man of religious integrity, despite taking political stances that violate the teachings of his own faith?
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But on two issues in particular, Santorum has broken with official Catholic doctrine to side with hardline evangelicals against accepted scientific conclusions. On several other matters, Santorum's political positions have sparked ire among Catholics concerned with social justice.
1. Santorum has been one of the most prominent congressional defenders of intelligent design and the teaching of creationism. But the Catholic Church has long been supportive of evolution. In 1950, Pope Pius XII declared that there is no conflict between the Catholic faith and the scientific study of evolution, and Pope John Paul II went further in 1996, stating that science had produced an enormous body of persuasive evidence in favor of evolution.
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2. Santorum has broken with both the church and scientists on the issue of climate change. Santorum is a staunch climate change denier, declaring climate change a "scheme" of the "left" that serves as "an excuse for more government control of your life."
That conspiracy theory is not the accepted view of the Catholic Church. While Santorum refers to climate change evidence as "junk science," the church today not only accepts climate change, but actively supports efforts to fight it in the name of social justice. Pope Benedict XVI is often referred to as the "green pope" for his devotion to environmental causes.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/05/santorum-wins-over-evange_n_1186942.html
i_sometimes
(201 posts)So how easy that was. I long for the day when a pol has not to mention which imaginary friend he or she favors in an effort to get votes.
catabryna
(2,080 posts)they are politicians after all.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)excommunicate him
jail him as they did Galileo
freshwest
(53,661 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Mr. More Catholic Than The Pope, who never misses a chance to take offense - real or imagined - at slights against Catholics, is strangely silent. Usually the most dangerous place on the face of the planet is to be between Donohue and a microphone.
nobodyspecial
(2,286 posts)and to social justice.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)in religion class they said god created evolution. Apart from that, the church was very staunch in preaching helping the poor, sick, and the elderly, which is the against the entire philosophy of the Republican Party. In that aspect, they are more in line with the Democrat Party. Didn't even Ratzinger recently call for wealth redistribution? I parted company a long time ago with them on the issues of birth control, abortion, divorce, and gay marriage, but on these other issues they are in complete contrast with the Repukes and Santorum should know this.
NYC Liberal
(20,135 posts)will be applied to Santorum.