Santorum: Church/state separation not absolute

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum continued to make controversial statements Sunday. The latest is about the separation of church and state, which Santorum says prohibits people of faith from the "public square."

"I don't believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute," Santorum said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

He was referring to a 1960 speech by then-presidential candidate John F. Kennedy on religion and governance, which Santorum said "makes me throw up."

"Because the first line, first substantive line in the speech says, 'I believe in America where the separation of church and state is absolute," the former Pennsylvania senator said. "You bet that makes you throw up."

Santorum said Kennedy "was trying to tell people of faith that you will do what the government says, we are going to impose our values on you."

Kennedy gave the speech during his campaign for presidency because of concerns about his Catholic faith. He assured the public, including concerned Protestant leaders, that he would not be "the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Party's candidate for President who happens also to be a Catholic."

Santorum, who is Catholic, has made his faith and religion a tenet of his campaign, and promised he would do so as president, too.

He said Kennedy meant that "people of faith have no role in the public square."

"This is the First Amendment. The First Amendment says the free exercise of religion," Santorum said.

[norcalruss]

I don't think that Sick Rick Saint-Moron is going to win very many Catholics over by attacking an American hero who was also Catholic.

[amccoy99]

Typical republican. He starts with a lie and then builds his whole argument around why that lie is the wrong policy.

Kennedy didn't say that government would impose its values on people of faith. That is just flat out wrong. IT IS A LIE. Kennedy never said people of faith don't belong in the public square. Santorum said those things. Santorum SAYS that is what Kennedy meant, but that is wrong. Ask yourself, if he lies about things like this what else will he lie about.

[rickferry]

While in High School one entered the Open Area at noon with a sense of keeping out of trouble. For some it meant that you could get a wedgey or a wet willie or called sad names (I was too big for that kind of treatment). One also assesed the people standig around as cool, a moron or serious Student. So if I saw Rick Santorum and John Kennedy standing around I wonder who I would give the wedgey too and think that he was a moron versus being in awe of a serious charismic Student....OK, let me think, uh, lets see...

[noloyalisti]

No wonder Sanitorium got run out of Pennsylvania.

[otgal]

Dear GOP: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE nominate Rick Sanitarium..um...Rick Sanitation..um Rick Sanioutahismind!! PLEASE nominate him..That would be the clearly defining thread that would once and for Prove..without a doubt that the REPUGNIZANT...um REPUKENESCENT...um REPUBLICAN PARTY has CLEARLY become the World Leader for BIGOTRY, HATRED, SEXISM and RACISM...I Beg nyou...Please nominate him!

[otgal]

Dear GOP: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE nominate Rick Sanitarium..um...Rick Sanitation..um Rick Sanioutahismind!! PLEASE nominate him..That would be the clearly defining thread that would once and for Prove..without a doubt that the REPUGNIZANT...um REPUKENESCENT...um REPUBLICAN PARTY has CLEARLY become the World Leader for BIGOTRY, HATRED, SEXISM and RACISM...I Beg nyou...Please nominate him!

[occupy_cbs]

"Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum continued to make controversial statements Sunday. The latest is about the separation of church and state"



If Pennsylvania could kick religious zealot little ricky sanitarium to the curb in 2006 with a huge loss, Americans can do the same thing in 2012, if the republican 3-ring circus is ignorant or extreme enough, to nominate this clown for their losing ticket!

[irreverentasever]

Santorum wants to change the constitution to make this the papal presidency.

[shurch4truth]

Something that has always made republicans throw up is that people love the Kennedys but nobody ever loved any republican.


That's the real reason Rick threw up

What should also make Rick sick, if he wants to be honest with himself, is that he is not saying a word about how his church failed it's children and betrayed the rule of American law.

PS. This comes from a lifelong loyal Catholic.

I am embarrassed by the behavior of this man........

[bud_green]

Santorum makes me throw up.

[ProgressNow]

Wow...you're about the 500th person to say that...me too!

[Zann-Zel]

Sounds like Santorum would send the entire country into sickness! Lets don't vote this guy in, okay?

OBAMA 2012 : )