When questions were being raised about the relationship between his Catholicism and his candicacy,

[Thats my opinion]

JFK, in a speech to some conservative Baptists who had raised the issue, made it clear. His presidency would be one thing. His Catholic faith would not determine the parameters of his administration. Romney has tried to avoid the controversy regarding his Mormonism. His only venture into that territory was declaring that God--as he understood it--had selected America to be the savior of the world, at least in this century. But what Republican won't say that.

Now comes Rick Santorum, who not only flaunts his allegiance to the relationship between Catholicism and government, but to a narrow almost medieval sort of religion which he insists must be American political and governmental law. This Catholic version of Sharia law ought to be enough to disqualify him. While most of us try to keep religion and who holds what out of the public discourse, Santorum has gone way over the line, and now his religious commitments become matters of public interest. So we have a perfect right to call for his disqualification on that basis alone.

[Angry Dragon]

1. My god is the only true god

those other gods are just false gods

[Thats my opinion]

2. Not only that!

My religious traditions and laws are the only true ones. Too many religious movements have settled for that, and those of us on the progressive end of things are fighting a continual battle against the sort of thing, wherever it occurs--and it often often.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. I am curious why...

there is no great groundswell against Popery like there was when JFK ran. There was even some when Cuomo Sr. ran for Governor of New York.

But not now with Santorum.

Why not?

[Thats my opinion]

4. There is already that reaction around. My post is not the only evidence. But many are hesitant

lest they be labelled anti-Catholic bigots. It is not Catholicism that is at issue but one powerful form of it supported by Santorum.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. That's a thought...

many are more afraid of being accused of bigotry than of the Pope running the country.

I suppose you could call that progress.

(FWIW-- I didn't know that many people actually afraid of Catholicism back in 1960, but it was talked about a lot in the media.)

[Brettongarcia]

9. Santorum's part of the scariest kind of Catholicism: "Conservative" Catholicism

They tend to: take everything literally; they believe they are better than anyone; they demand that everyone obeys them; they believe following "the bishops" all but absolutely.

They totally miss the subtleties of the Bible and real life.

[customerserviceguy]

8. For most Americans

the pope is not the bogeyman that he was made out to be just a couple of generations ago. Catholics and Protestants have figured out how to get along, it wasn't always that way in the United States. Heavy waves of immigration from Ireland and Italy caused reactions not unlike what we see today in European countries that have absorbed large numbers of Islamic people.

Simply put, there is enough of a framework of freedom established to keep most of Santorum's social agenda from ever happening. Yes, he'd still appoint reich-wingers to the SCOTUS, but what Republicon wouldn't? Would his appointees be that much worse than any that Mitt Romney picked? If so, they'd be outed in Senate hearings and their inflammatory writings and opinions would make them withdraw their nominations in shame.

Many people see his religious bluster as a way to seem more sincere to social conservative Neanderthals than either Mitt or Noot. It's the only way to go from 2% in the polls three months ago to possibly having a damned good shot at the nomination, and why would he change what's been working for him?

Most non-Catholics recognize that a pope doesn't hold as much sway over Catholics as they used to. I think they're mistaken, because I see a major push coming from the pulpit to oust President Obama. They thought they were going to get more money for Catholic hospitals from health care reform, while not having to change what they do significantly, and now they feel burned.

[mitchtv]

6. the bishops are unified in pushing the Vatican's line

Santorum seems to be lockstep with the Vatican. As a retired Catholic, I fear for this country under the sway of the American bishops(Pope Ratzo). Luckily he has not waited to attack mainline Protestants, who are all too aware of Roman abuses. I remember as a kid in Blessed Sacrament School, the nuns reminding us to go home and remind our parents to vote for Kennedy. I thought it was wrong then. still do.

[customerserviceguy]

7. If he should seize the nomination

I have little doubt his words will change. He's not backpedalled much so far, but he has proven that he'll do it, as shown by his "emotional" comments on women in combat.

His core supporters at that point know he will have to soften things to provide comfort for the mushy middle, and I doubt he will initiate much of any sort of conversation on culture war issues. It's mostly talk he's doing to outshout Noot, and appear more genuine than Mitt. As a practical matter, even he knows that he cannot possibly get a constitutional amendment to overturn Griswold vs. Connecticut, there would always be at least thirteen states that would block that completely, even if it reached the necessary supermajorities in both houses of Congress.

Expect his apologists to spend a lot of time spilling ink in the media to get that point across, they don't want to scare the folks who figure out who to vote for the weekend before an election.

[cbayer]

10. The Catholic version of Sharia law - excellent description.