I think the STFU suggestion is the opposite of Santorum’s openness on these things, and that openness has actually in the past endeared him to those Catholics who know he’s being obedient, and they give him a pass, and then they vote him into office 4 times in a very blue, democratic-controlled state. But they are Catholic, and they understand, even admire, and they give a pass.
So far as my missing some nuance, I’ve been a critic of liberal theologians’ nuances for years and years.
The bottom line remains that liberals are a very tiny portion of both modern and historic Christianity. They just think they’re big and important.
There is no nuance that countermands the Catholic teaching of fruitfulness. No need to litigate it. Just concisely state the point of exception as you’ve heard it, and the well-versed Catholics I’ve pinged will explain its origin out of the liberal wing of Catholic theology.
You seem a good sort, Edmund. Attack Romney. Leave Santorum alone. He is a conservative. He’s on our side.
Well I appreciate the polite tone.
BUT: The procreation with pleasure and open to fruitfulness does not cover certain seasons in a women’s month nor does it include certain seasons in a person’s life and the prohibition against even the physical barriers is an extreme that I just cannot agree with in my faith. Those are the nuances I was referring to, and I totally reject the “procreation” only view on these grounds and others like Catholic family planning and spontaneity etc. Huge problems with a lot of these rules which seem Phariseeical at best. To me, these are litigations worth having. But none of them have any part of a Presidential campaign.
Now, I do not consider Santorum very much a conservative FTR. If I did, I might well be for him. His non social issue record is mediocre at best and his level of effectiveness and accmplishment for conservative causes is way short of Newt’s in that regard. Union support is an absolute deal killer for me as are some of the other ways that Santorum has campaigned.
Also, the issue check box sort of analysis to me is really a foolish way to judge candidates (and BTW, I am NOT saying you do that) - because a checkbox analysis by definition flattens all issues out as equally important, flattens all accomplishment out as irrelevant, and does not take into account any number of other issues.