[tcg]

"Now along comes Rick Santorum. A father of eight, he not only supports a pro-life message--he lives it. This Catholic politician doesn't come from a wealthy family who can buy elections for him. He doesn't rely on the mobsters or the political machine to fix elections. His grandfather was a coal miner, and he's made it on his own. Here's a Catholic politician who doesn't speak down to the working classes, but speaks up for the working classes." (Fr. Dwight Longenecker)

[Steelfish]

Thanks for this posting. Great article tcg!

[Apollo5600]

This is the only thing he has going for him. He doesn’t have a platform that is at all unique or interesting.

He doesn’t support a flat tax or any real reforms to the tax code. It’s just the USUAL games, even in business, where some will have tax cuts and others will not. He does not support a flat tax. He does not support a fair tax. He does not anything that hasn’t been heard in every election for years.

Quite frankly, he represents 4 more years of Republican mediocrity, and this is 4 years AFTER a terrible Barack Obama who really could have been used as a pretty good reason to introduce some radical reforms.

While conservatives are falling inlove with these vapid character arguments, they are ignoring platforms and are displaying their lack of vision or strategic sense.

Another thing I find disturbing is this phenomena of Protestants essentially treating Catholicism on an equal level. For REAL Southern Baptist types, such as myself, the issue has never been about character. Bishop Fulton Sheen came off pretty good. Michael Voris of today, a conservative Catholic, is definitely a good guy. The PROBLEM is in dangerous theology that denies the work of Christ, and joins His good works with our own or with some Saint or Mary to whom they expect us to go through in order to get to Christ. Therefore, this whole “He’s one of us” and this admission that this particular individual was judging Catholicsm by some Catholics reveals the overall vapidity of his thinking process.

[GreyFriar]

Thank you for posting this. Santorum is typical of Catholics I grew up with in Indiana and Ohio. Hard working people of faith like their Protestant brethern. Kennedy’s were “glamor” and we learned that they were, essentially, CINO — Catholic in Name Only.

This is the difference between the coastal elites and the people who live in “fly over country.” The REAL people of this nation.

[Elvina]

This profound insight is grounded in a Catholic faith that is fully informed, actively engaged and vitally involved. It is popular, positive, optimistic and upbeat, and the American people have never seen anything like it.

This is the main kind of Catholicism I know about, as a convert and Catholic homeschooling parent. I like this piece because it kind of explains how so much of the anti-Catholicism is based on a stereotype and on people who never really followed the teachings of the Church to begin with. I have seen a lot of anti-Catholicism this week on TV, here on FR, and on Rush Limbaugh's show.

[TexasFreeper2009]

I agree, it’s a great article

[Sun]

“Here’s a Catholic politician who doesn’t speak down to the working classes, but speaks up for the working classes.”

One of the many reasons why Rick is connecting with the people!

[Antoninus]

Bookmark for later.

[wardaddy]

Why do some here make Santorum such a Catholic issue?

Most freepers will support him or Newt instead of Romney but his denomination seems to only matter to some Catholics here as a chauvinistic bragging right...

truth is a majority of Catholics vote Democrat...and almost always have...I think Reagan was an exception in 1980..Bush 2004 too

Catholics are no longer some persecuted species...our Supreme Court is ALL Catholic and Jewish...entirely....I think 6 Catholics and 3 Jews...one Catholic a diehard leftist and another a moderate

and Congress is around 30% Catholic

and this latest forced contraception hoopla has united Catholic clergy and Evangelical laity in a coalition whilst many and even according to a recent PPP poll Catholics in the general population off this board support Obama's contraception mandate

so playing up this Catholic angle like it's 1855 and the Irish (Catholics) are being treated like dogs and Santorum represents some Catholic phoenix is ..well..silly..and inaccurate

the only import Catholicism has here is that it appears Santorum is genuine in his Christian faith...and all the better.

you guys are trumpeting the Catholic angle for your own ends but it won't help get votes...liberal northern Union Catholics and latino Catholics are still gonna vote for the govt handout and political power...

Being a Catholic candidate does not by default mean that candidate will be a conservative anymore than Slick going to Southern Baptist church meant he would either

Santorum is a social conservative by and large because that is who he is...not just because he is Catholic...I wish it was that way...and if most Catholics voted as their dogma dictates this nation would have all it's ills cured overnight...but alas...that ain't the reality

[onyx]

The Catholic convert, Newt Gingrich gets my money, my vote and the votes of my family members, and my prayers.

Newt Gingrich was the first one to cite the assault on the Church and everyone's religious freedom in a debate and he's not wearing his religion on his sleeve.

GO NEWT!