Religious leader to Santorum: Exit the race

(CBS News) Richard Land, a leader in the Southern Baptist Convention, said Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum should think about leaving the presidential race.

In an interview which aired Sunday on "Face the Nation," Land said that Santorum, who is trailing front-runner Mitt Romney in the race for the Republican nomination, "ought to seriously consider leaving the race now."

"In eight years, he'll be three years younger than Romney is now," Dr. Land, who is friends with Santorum, told host Bob Schieffer. "But you know, running for president is a very personal decision; when to get out is a very personal decision, and he's going to have to make that."

Santorum has been seeking the advice of conservative leaders, some of whom he met with in the Washington, D.C. areas last week to determine his campaign strategy moving forward. On Saturday Santorum's campaign dismissed any indication that he might exit the race.

In addition to offering advice to Santorum, Land defended the Southern Baptist Convention's alignment with the Republican Party.

"We didn't make abortion on demand illegal in every state in the country and strike down the laws against abortion in all 50 states," he said. "We didn't seek to erode the expression in the public square by people of faith."

During the religion roundtable discussion, Land and journalist Andrew Sullivan, out with a new article in Newsweek "Christianity in Crisis," who said the politicization of religious groups, including the Southern Baptists, interferes with the message of faith.

"I think they're muddying the real, radical truth of Jesus which is, we will gain power by giving it up," Sullivan said. "That we do not seek in the public sphere to have any power but to be powerless. And Jesus was absolutely a-political. Anti-political, given the chance to be political, he's only on the cross because he refused politics."

Cardinal Dolan: Contraception policy is a "radical intrusion"
Cardinal Dolan: Politics not overrun by religion

The heated exchange between Sullivan and Land included politicians invoking God in political speeches and churches making political endorsements in church services.

"Let's stop the hypocrisy of one party being welded to one religious (group). The religious left is the Democratic Party of prayer," Land said.

Sullivan responded: "The religious Right is infinitely more powerful and controls all of the Republican Party in a way that the religious Left has nothing like [within the Democratic Party]."

The roundtable also included Luis Cortes Jr. President of Esperanza; Rabbi David Wolpe, of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles; and Sally Quinn of the Washington Post's On Faith website.

[robbyr2]

Mr. Land is entitled to his opinions and so is his denomination. They are not entitled to a tax-exempt status however.

[GoldwingGreg]

So people can only voice their opinion and attempt to persuade other people to their line of thinking only if they are eligable to pay taxes?

[roblearns]

Actually religious groups and other non-profits do have a tax exempt status.

[nancy_naive]

IRS to Religious Leaders: Exit Politics, or pay taxes.

[Ben37221]

As an African American, I would have like to see an African American Preacher as part of the panel. I think the discussion would have been more enriched. However, I still think the topics were well argued by those that participated inspite of the fact that I disadree with some of their positions.
It is not that their is too much religion in politics, it is that their is too much of the wrong type of religion. The problem is that various churches are allowing themselves to be used by politicians to push agenda's that runs contrarey to the Christian faith.
They are religious issues that runs dear to the heart of both democratic Christians and Republican Christians such as prayer in schools. It is when the right high jack it as a political football that it become a turn off for so many people.
Religion should not be seen as exclusive to one party or one religion. When we respect the religious freedom of all, we in a nutshell left up our own religion.

[David_Tampa]

My point is that we are being lead by puffed up people who are full of their own importance. I feel that we stand the best chance of getting along with the Lord being peacemakers. We do not need weapons to keep the world calm. We can do it with our economy. I missed a memo on the blessed are the rich, and blessed are the weapon makers, and blessed are the war mongers thing.

[lurabelle]

It was odd that the producers of the show on religion in the political arena did not include an African American preacher. It was the missing perspective on a show with a Rabbi, Latin Evangelical Christian, Southern Baptist, and Catholic Bishop. Andrew was the most provocative and Sally Quinn did nothing to enhance the conversation. The absence allowed your guest to each use the Black church as a talking point to try and prove their theories as to why its OK for religious lobbies to co-op politicians.
In general, I am disappointed in Face the Nation. The real news reporting, poor questioning by Schieffer and the self-interested op-ed perspectives have made it irrelevant. Plus where are the other stories that are "Facing the Nation". Where are the CEO's have laid off so many US workers? Every time a corp lays off 3000 + workers, Face the Nation should have them on to Face the Nation..these are the stories that matter today (just not the GM CEO who seems to be the only CEO on TV). Enough of the politicians who are really not sharing truths. Where are the bankers who have foreclosed and refuse to help homeowners, where are the Wall St. types who should have a lot to share with the nation as to what happened and what they think are some of the solutions. What about a teacher or 2 to share with the nation what they are facing as they lose their jobs. 3 years of a Republican election coverage has become old news..just in the time when it is just becoming news. Get a better producer or spin this show and call it "The Republican Days of our lives". Boring. CBS needs a real news show that explores the real issues facing the nation. A long time viewer who is bored:(

[Ben37221]

As an African American, I would have like to see an African American Preacher as part of the panel. I think the discussion would have been more enriched. However, I still think the topics were well argued by those that participated inspite of the fact that I disadree with some of their positions.
It is not that their is too much religion in politics, it is that their is too much of the wrong type of religion. The problem is that various churches are allowing themselves to be used by politicians to push agenda's that runs contrarey to the Christian faith.
They are religious issues that runs dear to the heart of both democratic Christians and Republican Christians such as prayer in schools. It is when the right high jack it as a political football that it become a turn off for so many people.
Religion should not be seen as exclusive to one party or one religion. When we respect the religious freedom of all, we in a nutshell left up our own religion.

[Fly-BD5]

No, no, stay, Rick! Stick around, drive them fricking crazy all the way to the convention! :)

[darnyou]

Interesting how the Mormon Church's leaders view how their members should interact with politics.

The official Church policy states that the Church does not:

Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms.
Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes.
Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes to. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader.

But the Church does:

Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections.
Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters.
Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church.
Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

Maybe that's why active members in the Mormon Church goes from Glenn Beck to Harry Reid with Mitt Romney in the middle.

[rayward73446]

The Catholic church is not going to reap any windfall by trying to FORCE a doctrine issue on thousands of women. There is a crisis in religion, and that crisis is believing that force is the way to gain new converts, or to increase the church's number of followers. Considering the Catholic church's involvement in moving pedifile priests around to 'hide them' This new action is further justification for the increasing distain for the catholic church and the policies they operate under. I'm not a big fan of the Southern Baptist hierarchy either, considering the sex and alcohol at their Las Vegas convention a few years ago. If you do not practice what you preach, then you are worse than a hipocrit. These religious leaders do not want you to know that the real reason they have aligned themselves with the GOP is money, the root of all evil. These men are all wealthy, and pay no taxes, part of the 1% by any measure.

[roblearns]

Rayward, do you really think completely backwards or is it just your attempt at manipulation?

How is the Catholic church trying to 'force' a doctrine issue? You can spend your paycheck on anything you want, the whole point they were making, is the long standing right of Catholics not to be forced to pay for things they find objectionable, was being turned on its head.

If you were to be believed, it's the Catholics asking for change, when they were only asking to keep their existing rights. And that somehow Catholics are a religion of force, not choice, when they are asking for the opposite, choice.

I'm tired of people like you, playing word games, never talking about issues, but forever playing a game of trying to frame an argument.

Plain english, you beleive Catholic bishops should be forced, by the government, to pay for other people's contraception.

Catholics are not aligned with the GOP, btw. One party may agree with them, but their position hasn't really changed, they find contraception morally objectionable, and while anyone can use their paychecks to buy contraception, while anyone can also get it for free from various sources - they are asking that they themselves, not be forced to pay for your contraceptions - you can legally obtain them, either because you bought them, because you got them for free.

[BWB2020]

"...And Jesus was absolutely a-political. Anti-political, given the chance to be political, he's only on the cross because he refused politics.".."

Wrong, the legend of the Nazarene Aramethean Isa bin Yusuf, (or "Jesus" as dyslexic westerners know him) says that he died on the cross because he offended the political power that he criticized with acts like upsetting the money changers' tables at the temple, and his pointing out the corruption of the rich and powerful amongst his own people.

That in itself was populist politics, and it was his choice to engage in them. His impalement while on the now-worshiped instrument of torture was a direct consequence of his upsetting the powered elite,

If he had no political power, then the subterfuges and power struggles that took place among his "disciples" after his death, would not have happened, as there would have been no political power to struggle over.

Then the emperor Constantine would not have converted, as Paul would never have been sent to him to be judged, and the Christian "religion" would not exist today.

[BWB2020]

"...And Jesus was absolutely a-political. Anti-political, given the chance to be political, he's only on the cross because he refused politics.".."

Wrong, the legend of the Nazarene Aramethean Isa bin Yusuf, (or "Jesus" as dyslexic westerners know him) says that he died on the cross because he offended the political power that he criticized with acts like upsetting the money changers' tables at the temple, and his pointing out the corruption of the rich and powerful amongst his own people.

That in itself was populist politics, and it was his choice to engage in them. His impalement while on the now-worshiped instrument of torture was a direct consequence of his upsetting the powered elite,

If he had no political power, then the subterfuges and power struggles that took place among his "disciples" after his death, would not have happened, as there would have been no political power to struggle over.

Then the emperor Constantine would not have converted, as Paul would never have been sent to him to be judged, and the Christian "religion" would not exist today.