Santorum "appalled" at JFK church/state comments

Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) speaks at the Conservative Political Action conference (CPAC), on February 10, 2011 in Washington, DC.

/ Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Former Sen. Rick Santorum, who appears likely to enter the race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, said in Massachusetts Tuesday that he is "frankly appalled'' that John F. Kennedy supported the separation of church and state when he was a presidential candidate in 1960.

Kennedy, who had been facing questions because of his Catholic faith, said at the time, "I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute.''

Santorum, a fellow Catholic, cast that statement as "radical," the Boston Globe reports, adding that it did "great damage."

"We're seeing how Catholic politicians, following the first Catholic president, have followed his lead, and have divorced faith not just from the public square, but from their own decision-making process,'' said Santorum.

Santorum was speaking to a Catholic group when he made the comments, which were reportedly met with "nods and applause."

The former Pennsylvania senator, a longtime social conservative, is hoping to catch fire with like-minded GOP primary voters in the same way that Mike Huckabee did in the 2008 campaign cycle, when Huckabee won the Iowa caucuses.

In his appearance in Massachusetts he also criticized likely primary opponent Mitt Romney, the former governor of the state, for Romney's health care reforms in Massachusetts.

"I feel we need someone who is a strong, principled conservative who believes not in government mandates, not in government control of the health care system, but in a patient-centered approach to health care,'' Santorum said, according to the Globe.

He added, speaking both of Romney's Massachusetts plan and the nationwide health care overhaul passed under President Obama: "Ultimately, it's a failure."

[julesarcher1]

by JV1970 March 16, 2011 6:21 PM EDT
We just want a Christian government, that's all! It doesn't matter which branch just as long as it's Christian!


Well, it's not going to be here, thank you US Constitution!

[fwd23515]

by JV1970 March 16, 2011 6:14 PM EDT
Speaking as a Southerner, I am very proud of the fact that we still stand for the Lord! If you don't like us and don't like the way we live then stay in the north!

Dear JV1970: I am a Southerner and I don't agree with you.

[jaundyrose]

nice article.....
-----------------------
<a href="http://www.betterbuildingprices.com.au">house designs</a>

[iclyde]

I guarantee you Santorum will come out of the closet soon seeing how anti-gay he is. It's just a matter of time.

[hakori]

iclyde, I think it's a given he's gay, but he won't come out willingly.

[iclyde]

There should be some sort of gay undercover squad that tries to seduce these dbags and out them.

[hakori]

Santorum is appalled that JKF knew more about our system of government than does he? What exactly is he appalled about? Does he what a Christian Taliban in America? Does he want to destroy our freedom of religion by government getting involved in the affairs of church? Would this not be a government overreach? What does this man mean? Our founding fathers had the wisdom he obvioulsy lacks. How much more clear can this be: the First Amendment reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ...." It's pretty clear. If government is involved in the affairs of religion, it is prohibiting the free exercie thereof. He's only doing this to apeal to the tea partiers and other radical right-wing conservatives.

[hakori]

Does Santorum not understand the context JKF said this in? He was answering his critics who would have the American people bleive that JFK's allegiance would be to the Pope, not the American Constitution. He's just another Bachmann/Palin.

[kansas1946]

Former Sen. Rick Santorum, who appears likely to enter the race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, said in Massachusetts Tuesday that he is "frankly appalled'' that John F. Kennedy supported the separation of church and state when he was a presidential candidate in 1960.
*******************************

I will tell you what I am "appalled" about. That anyone has EVER voted for this guy for anything. If he doesn't understand, first the context of Kennedy's statement, and second, how important it is to keep "church" out of the management and running of our government, then he surely must have flunked both American goverment and American history in school. This man is a fool and "frankly" dangerous.

[diamruby]

If you choose to believe in a "myth" that is your choice, you do not have the right to force your beliefs on anyone else. We see daily what "religion" does to the world with its evil. If "religion" is so great why are they the most evil, greedy, cause of all wars, organizations in the world ? Why are there people starving while they build gold castles & live in luxory? We are being forced to support these organizations with our tax dollars so they can become even richer, they own & have a rule in alot of very large businesses & government. If you do not belong to one of these "cults" you & your family will be treated as outcasts at school & work, especially in certain states like Utah, Idaho & the South.

[JV1970]

Speaking as a Southerner, I am very proud of the fact that we still stand for the Lord! If you don't like us and don't like the way we live then stay in the north!

[Zann-Zel]

JV1970 March 15, 2011 11:26 PM EDT
"Santorum isn't the only one who doesn't believe there should be a separation of church and state! Neither do I and there are many more of us! We believe that God should be included in everything we do! "
------
LOL! Since you are the ONLY one here that has this opinion......just curious which religion are you?

[JV1970]

I am Pentecostal, not "Palinista" as USA__Is-back claims.

[Zann-Zel]

that he is "frankly appalled'' that John F. Kennedy supported the separation of church and state when he was a presidential candidate in 1960.
-----------
Do you people WANT a Church Controlled Government???
Do you Really want that??
Think about it....first problem.........WHICH Church??? Catholic..Baptist..Mormon..one of the 10 million other ones?
How about if our country goes into each of these religions fighting each other for control of the country? That sound good?
Then after a 100 or so years of fighting...when one gains control...we can REALLY go to war with Islam!

IDIOTS!!! Total Frickin Idiots!

[san850]

It's absolutely insane...there are so many flying monkeys in the GOP/Tea Party now that it's downright scary.

[JV1970]

We just want a Christian government, that's all! It doesn't matter which branch just as long as it's Christian!

[Rodeo_Joe]

Follow the MONEY - See where it goes - Follow the MONEY