Santorum benefits from mistaken religious identity

[rug]

By Rachel Zoll
AP Religion Writer
February 25, 2012

Rick Santorum's political good fortune in the Republican presidential primaries has come about in large part because of his appeal to evangelicals. A Roman Catholic, he is a beneficiary of more than two decades of cooperation between conservative Protestants and Catholics who set aside theological differences for the common cause of the culture war.

Doctrine -- and anti-Catholic bias -- once split Protestants and Catholics so bitterly that many evangelical leaders worked to defeat John F. Kennedy because of his religion. When Kennedy sought to confront suspicion about his Catholicism, he made his now-famous faith speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, a group of evangelical Protestants in Texas. Five decades later, when some prominent evangelical leaders gathered at a Texas ranch to discuss backing a 2012 GOP candidate, Santorum was their choice.

Now running about even with Mitt Romney, Santorum has nearly doubled his support from white evangelical Republicans, from 22 percent last month to 41 percent two weeks ago, according to surveys by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life. An Associated Press-GfK survey conducted more recently, Feb.16-20, found Santorum leading Romney among white evangelicals, 44 percent to 21 percent. White Catholics also preferred Santorum, 38 percent to 29 percent, in the AP-GfK poll.

The high regard extends to Santorum's personal life. His seven children have been home-schooled, a practice much more common among conservative American Protestants than Catholics, who have a network of parochial schools built over centuries. His concerns -- opposing gay marriage and abortion, promoting traditional roles for women -- contribute to that appeal. The Christian Post, an evangelical media outlet, published an article this week called "Catholic Politicians You Thought Were Evangelical," with a short list of the most-often misidentified, led by Santorum.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2012/02/25/santorum_benefits_from_mistaken_religious_identity/

[cbayer]

1. I was totally confused about him initially.

I just assumed, based on the things that he was saying, that he was evangelical.

I have lived in communities with very large Catholic populations and I have never met a Catholic like him.

[MarkCharles]

2. I'd say he's a "bit touched in the head" Catholic

And a homophobic one to boot.

"Santorum 'Homophobic' - Fmr Republican Senator Simpson"

2012 Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum was described as 'rigid and homophobic' by former Republican Senator Alan Simpson in an interview with Bob Schieffer on the CBS show Face The Nation

[edhopper]

3. He seems to be more like

the gay hating, women hating, sex hating clergy than the rank and file Catholics.

[Brettongarcia]

4. More clearly put: when will voters notice Santorum's Catholicism... conflicts with Protestantism?

And with Judaism?

See my more extended remarks, on Santorum "throwing up" at Kennedy posts.

Kennedy noticed this problem: many Protestants might not vote for him, because he was the first Catholic presidental candidate. They were afraid that Kennedy would follow the Pope, and catholicism. And that he would therefore, discriminate against Protestants and their religion.

Kennedy avoided this landmine; by saying that "the separation of Church and state is absolute" (Sept. 12, 1960 speech at Rice hotel, Houston). Kennedy firmly advocating an America "where no public official ... accepts instructions ... from the Pope."

Kennedy avoided this issue - but Rick Santorum just stepped in it, hard.

There are many differences between Catholicism and Protestantism, that could and should be noted as a major issue in the next election. Foremost among them? Most Protestant churches allow contraception and abortion. In insisting that these are evil, and that his theology should be the law of the land? Santorum is discriminating against Protestantism, its religious beliefs.