Posted on 02/19/2012 4:53:22 PM PST by Andy from Chapel Hill
57% of Republicans are Protestant and 23% are Catholic, if I read the data at Pew Research correctly.
Today, after church (Presbyterian, but thinking about joining an unaffilated church), a group of us older and more conservative men began discussing the lack of enthusiasm among the Republican base for any of the current candidates. One fellow said "I am not Catholic because I do not agree with the Catholic Church's teachings and I am not Mormon because I do not want to be a Mormon". Others generally agreed and said that the candidate's religion mattered a lot.
Is the talk about a contested convention and the possibility of candidates like Palin, Jeb Bush, etc. really a front for a movement toward a Protestant candidate?
I know I will be flamed for asking this question, but please consider it as a question that the base is considering.
Disclosure: Among the group, I like Newt the best, but in a contested convention, I would prefer someone new paired with Paul Ryan as VP (Ryan is a Catholic).
A speech former Senator Rick Santorum delivered at a Catholic college in 2008 began burning up the left-wing blogosphere Friday afternoon. At Ave Maria University in Naples, Florida, Santorum argued that Satan was using the national debate over abortion as a tool to destroy the institutions of American culture — including universities, the government, popular culture, and mainline Protestant churches.
“This is not a political war at all. This is not a cultural war at all. This is a spiritual war,” Santorum said during his August 29, 2008 speech. “And the Father of Lies has his sights on what you would think the Father of Lies, Satan, would have his sights on: a good, decent, powerful, influential country, the United States of America.”
The portion of his remarks that have attracted the most attention — including scorn from the liberal People for the American Way, which identified the university’s podcast of Santorum’s speech on Friday — concern his view that Protestant churches have been compromised by that “spiritual war” over the question of when life begins.
Santorum is a devout Roman Catholic.
“Once the colleges fell, and those who were being educated in our institutions,” he said during the speech, “the next was the church. Now you’d say, ‘Well, wait, the Catholic Church?’ No.”
“We all know that this country was founded on a Judeo-Christian ethic, but the Judeo-Christian ethic was a Protestant Judeo-Christian ethic. Sure, the Catholics had some influence, but this was a Protestant country and the Protestant ethic. Mainstream, mainline Protestantism.
“And of course we look at the shape of mainline Protestantism in this country and it is a shambles. It is gone from the world of Christianity as I see it. So they attacked mainline Protestantism, they attacked the Church, and what better way to go after smart people who also believe they’re pious — to use both vanity and pride to go after the Church.”
Santorum also insisted that Satan has cheapened American pop culture.
“The corruption of culture, the corruption of manners, the corruption of decency is now on display,” he said, “whether it’s the NBA or whether it’s a rock concert or whether it’s on a movie set.”
(LISTEN: Santorum’s complete 2008 speech at Ave Maria University)
In 2008 Santorum was on the outside of the presidential race looking in, criticizing then-Senator Barack Obama for telling Pastor Rick Warren during a candidate forum that determining when life begins is “above my pay grade.”
He also slammed then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for telling NBC’s Tom Brokaw on “Meet the Press” that “the doctors of the Church have not been able to make that definition … We don’t know.”
Pelosi described herself during that August 24, 2008 interview as “an ardent, practicing Catholic.”
Santorum, speaking less than a week later, leaned on day-old comments from Bishop Sam Aquila of Fargo, N.D. Catholics who support “so-called abortion rights,” Aquila said, referring to Pelosi, “support a false right, promote a culture of death, and are guided by the ‘Father of Lies.’”
Aquila also said pro-abortion Catholics should refrain from taking Communion at church.
Speaking to Ave Maria University students one day later, Santorum picked up on the bishop’s “Father of Lies” rhetoric.
“That great acidic quality of time corrodes away even the strongest foundations,” Santorum said. “And Satan has done so by attacking the great institutions of America.”
Reached for comment late Friday night, Santorum deputy communications director Matt Beynon referred questions to communications director Hogan Gidley, who was not immediately available.
Santorum's answer was THE Christian answer; as a Christian you must accept the word of someone who professes to be a Christian. A higher power will separate the sheep from the goats.
santorum reminds me of a preacher man. He needs to tone it down and not make such a specticle of social issues when the people want and need to hear about the peril our country is in and how he intends to stop the trajectory. So for he hasn't presented a plan..just opinions.
BTW Santorum is at the beginning now of being vetted..At last! So you'd better be prepared for people being "all over his threads"....it goes with the process.
I greatly enjoy Marguerite's opinions and posts...as well as her comments. You can always scroll by them.
Oh really? No...that is not true..would you not make judgement calls concerning who your children associate with or support? Of course you would. Many people claim the Christian faith and yet Jesus said we would know them by their fruits...that we needed to understand some would go out from among us but are not part of us. And that false teacchers would indeed be among us as wolves in sheeps clothing. So yes indeed.....we need to discern those who lay claim to Christianity...especailly as that day approaches when we are warned many false and misleading teachers will be laying claim to the faith.
I’m still trying to figure out if they want a republican POTUS candidate.
“Do Republicans want a Protestant POTUS candidate?”
I’d say that the discontent comes more from something like this- our field is not all we would like it to be. Paul is nuts, Santorum is a nice guy but not perceived as a fighter, and Newt is a bit of Washington-insider shady. Then we have Romney who might as well be Obama.(Pretty much leaves either Newt or Santorum, in my book.) I account myself a Protestant Christian who sees Catholics as brethren who are in error. I wouldn’t have a problem voting for a Catholic, assuming their views are socially and fiscally conservative.
. . . and, as it turns out, most of the justices of SCOTUS who fit that description are Catholics.
This is not new to those of us in Pa. which is one of the reasons people voted him out...he offended many and has an arrogance that does not quite unless he's running for office...even then you will see it slither out as we are seeing more of in his stage presence.
This is not new to those of us in Pa. which is one of the reasons people voted him out...he offended many and has an arrogance that does not quite unless he's running for office...even then you will see it slither out as we are seeing more of in his stage presence.
Jeb is Catholic too.
Rick answers the questions he is asked. He is just asked them incessantly.
“Santorum is running for President...not for Pope Linda”
He was talking about Obama’s environmentalism not his Christianity. You sound like the the people who were afraid of Kennedy 50 years ago.
Not likely. The least among evangelicals (though there is decline there also). See post 42.
is this really an issue?
And then there is
“...there’s a question about whether this canon’’ – the relevant church law – “was ever intended to be used’’ to bring politicians to heel. He thinks not. “I stand with the great majority of American bishops and bishops around the world in saying this canon was never intended to be used this way.’’ — from the thread [Archbishop] Wuerl: Why I Won’t Deny Pelosi Communion http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2247058/posts
Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard says it is “unfair and imprudent” to conclude that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his girlfriend, Sandra Lee, shouldn’t receive Communion simply because they’re living together. — from the thread Bishop: None of your business (Hubbard rejects Catholic expert’s criticism of Gov. Cuomo) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2679260/posts
[Archbishop Timothy Dolan] also does not outright deny the sacrament to dissenting Catholic lawmakers, but he is seen as an outspoken defender of church orthodoxy in a style favored by many theological conservatives.
— from the thread US bishops elect NYC archbishop as head in upset (Catholic bloggers blamed) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2711746/posts?page=289#289
This is the artical I was referencing...which has nothing to do with environmental issues. What are you referencing?
catholic-santorum-in-2008-protestantism-in-shambles-gone-from-the-world-of-christianity
I didn't say that Obama's fruits couldn't be questioned but we cannot know his heart or know that his deeds are over. Maybe "trust but verify". This statement on Rick's part takes takes faith off the table for Obama.
We are all sinners.
Where in Scripture does it say we must accept The word of someone they are Christian? The Lord Jesus said by their fruits you shall know them, (Mt. 7:16,20) not by their words, for the kingdom of God is not in Word but in power. (1Cor. 4:20)
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. “ (Titus 1:16)
Hello Daniel....
So what’s your take on why Santorum is speaking so candidily about faith matters? I know it’s his makeup and such that goes with his denomination...but I just think he needs to be addressing the issues as issues. Bringing his religious beliefs into the fray so vividly will turn non-believers against him..and even believers for that matter.....we’ll loose this election if he wins and continues with what is seen as ‘babbling’ about religious matters IMO.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.