For Santorum, Faith and Reason are Benchmarks for Politics

By Michelle Bauman
10/30/2011
Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com)

'I'm proud of being a Catholic,' Santorum added. 'I'm proud of the teachings of the Church'

People say that they make their decisions based on their conscience. What forms their conscience? Clearly for me, as the Church teaches, your conscience is formed by faith and reason, And so I apply both. I'm proud of being a Catholic, I'm proud of the teachings of the Church.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNA/EWTN News) - Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum says that reason does not conflict with his Catholic faith, but rather works with it to guide his political decisions.

"When the reason is right and the faith is true, they end up at the same place," Santorum told CNA in an early October interview.

"Faith and reason. The conclusion must satisfy both."

Santorum, who served as a U.S. senator from Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2007, has expressed his support for the Church's teaching on key social issues.

His Catholic beliefs have drawn attention in the media since he announced his bid for the Republican Party's presidential nomination.

"People say that they make their decisions based on their conscience. What forms their conscience?" asked Santorum.

"Clearly for me, as the Church teaches, your conscience is formed by faith and reason," he said. "And so I apply both."

Santorum used the example of abortion to illustrate how faith and reason play complementary roles in guiding his political positions.

"The reasoned argument is simply this," he explained. "At the moment of conception, scientifically, biologically, that is a unique human being, with its own DNA. It is unique in the world, and it's alive, so it's a human life."

"And I don't believe that the Constitution, as written, discriminates between some human life being people and other human life not being people."

He sees this principle of human dignity in the Fourteenth Amendment, a provision "that was supposed to be cast as broadly as possible, to include people who were not seen as fully human."

Santorum explained that reason brought him to the conclusion that abortion is wrong, a conclusion that faith also showed him.

"The faith teaches very clearly that life is life at the moment of conception," he said.

Santorum acknowledged that his Catholicism "gets mentioned a lot" by the media. But the attention does not bother him.

"Bring it on," he said. "I'm happy to talk about it. It is a part of my life."

"I'm proud of being a Catholic," Santorum added. "I'm proud of the teachings of the Church."

Santorum also said that those who do not share his beliefs should not feel threatened by him.

"James Madison called the First Amendment the 'perfect remedy,'" he said. "All views are allowed in the public square - people with faith, people without faith."

"People can make their claims, and we can have a substantive and vibrant debate," he added.

"No one should feel threatened, any more than I would feel threatened by someone bringing their ideas in."

Instead, the presidential hopeful welcomes a reasoned dialogue between different viewpoints.

"I may feel challenged by them because they require me to rigorously defend what I believe in and to argue for what I believe in, but that's a good thing, not a bad thing."

- - -

Founded in continued response to Pope John Paul II�s call for a �New Evangelization,� the Catholic News Agency (CNA) has been, since 2004, one of the fastest growing Catholic news providers to the English speaking world.

Keywords: Rick Santorum, Bachmann, Cain, Romney, Paul, Gingrich, Catholic Action, campaign 2012

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1 - 9 of 9 Comments

Diane
1 year ago
If Rick Santorum is nominated, I'll definitely vote for him. He knows this country's moral collapse has led to it's economic collapse. That's why he focuses on truth and morals when he talks. America's economy has gone the way of America's morals. I pray it's not too late for this country. Obama has to go; he is symptomatic of the moral decay which has swept this country. He has no moral center as he is only a pragmatist through and through. Rick Santorum is a polar opposite and is what this country desperately needs. The silence which most people have greeted the leftist Occupy Wall Street revolters shows that the average person realizes what Obama and his supporters really are. Maybe America has awakened in time to save itself. Hopefully. The right to LIVE is above race or gender. Vote prolife!
Theresa H
1 year ago
I think the reason so-called "political" articles are being posted by Catholic Online is that we are at the point of "no return" to being "one nation, under God" for sure--if Obama is elected next fall. That's not a "political" statement. That is a statement based on both faith and morals, reason and fact, and grave concern.... The Natural Law must be upheld by every nation if they want to survive. Failure to do so is why nations that have gone before us have lost their way and collapsed. To the point here, need I list all the anti-life, anti-natural family Rules and Regulations and Laws that this President has signed in just 3 years, and his promotion of abortion and contraception not only in the USA, but all over the world.... We have an obligation to approach the political realm with the perspective of "right reason"--and we can only have "right reason" when we adhere to the Natural Law and our Catholic faith and morals in all aspects of life--including government. Even our Founding Fathers went so far as to say that our form of government was "written only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other." (John Adams, 10/11/1798) Pick your choice, who would you rather pledge allegiance to: a nation "under God" or a nation that subjects itself to a "secularist agenda?" There is a hierarchy of values: after "under God," #1 is human life. In this realm, no one is more outspoken than Rick Santorum. The issues related to "war" are debatable--(there is such a thing as a "just war" - CCC, Vat., 2nd Ed: 2309)-- It is also debatable re. HOW we address the moral problems re. the economy, the needs of the poor, etc.. But abortion and the related life issues are not a matter of debatable opinions. Look at Obama, who may justifiably be called "the Abortion President...," look at all he himself has done to uphold and promote abortion.... (And we pay for all of it!) And now, under his "watch" and surveillance, our religious liberties are being attacked.... I'm sorry, but what we are up against today is not just "political," it a matter of moral survival, as well as physical survival (for the babies--and the elderly, and the very sick, etc.)! Thank God, the USCCB is speaking up more and more these days and writing to the President--so "grave," say our Bishops, is the situation.... And what is the response of the President? So far, we are told, "No response!"
Mary Bauman
1 year ago
How refreshing and honest to see a politician have a direct and poignant point of view, stand behind it and not back down even if the media would have you believe that the majority of American's support abortion. Sen. Santorum is a breath of honest fresh air. He is who he says he is. He is what American needs, not just empty words to gain votes. He has not wavered and I admire his strong conviction and willingness to not change with the tide. He is the kind of person the White House needs in the next election. He already has my vote!
Mike Mayen
1 year ago
Yes Santorum and very pro-life and for protecting the sanctity of marriage, but in all the debates Santorum has been very pro war and cutting nothing out of the Military industrial machine. JPII has called these wars unjust. These unjust wars have killed and destroyed millions of lives. Check our John Perkins Economic Hit-man.
abey
1 year ago
The bible does not give much of the word Conscience, but it does give a lot about the word Spirit.
Ann
1 year ago
While I appreciate this fabulous story, I do wonder if the front page article might occasionally feature someone humble, gentle, and obscure who is doing God's work. I am a little tired of politicians - who by necessity, perhaps, spend much of their time in argument and contention. All members of congress are millionaires (and I'm sure Mr. Santorum has given generously of his wealth). All are powerful and influential. But should this publication follow the lead of every publication, and shine a spotlight on those who already have a voice?

I have been reading in James this morning, and perhaps that has made me think along these lines.
Theresa
1 year ago
Rick Santorum is Catholic through and through and the most outspoken pro-life champion among the Republican presidential candidates. Unfortunately, for that very reason, I doubt he is electable--because there are way to many Americans, including Catholics, who are indifferent re. the life issues--or "pro-choice." Too many "pro-choice" people don't realize, at least not yet, that "pro-choice" is moral relativism which denies truth. Our Bishops and the Pope are telling us that abortion is "always and everywhere wrong." That means it is wrong to vote a pro-abortion person to the Presidency, or any congressional position. This is the No. 1 Issue of our time and our failure to acknowledge this and take it down is destroying our country. Look at what we have become since Roe v.Wade and everything that has been "passed" into the Law of this once great nation! The fact is that now we have Obama--the Abortion President par excellence; he has done more to promote abortion than "Planned Parenthood"--yet how many Catholics are pro-Obama! Yes, the big question for those of us who say we are "Catholic" is: "what/who informs our conscience?" "You are Peter...and on this rock I shall build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven...." (Mt 16:18-20); He who hears you, hears me and he who rejects you rejects me,..." (Lk 10:16) Or: "In my opinion.........." ? The "Catholic" vote had a big impact in the last election........
Pauline
1 year ago
Mr. Santorum, thank you for sharing your beautiful Bella and for the gift of life that only comes from the Lord, our God. I admire you and your family for giving that beautiful baby all the care that she needed to survive. I watched your video and saw how beautiful Bella is.
In my book, you are the best man suited to be precident of this country, and I realized that it will be a hard job because there is a big mess to clean up. I believe that you are up to meet the challenge, however, with God,s help all things are possible. The United States needs a man of God to clean up the horrible mess we are in. There is no mistake, 52 plus million aborted babies, their blood is crying up to God and either the people in this country repent from this massive killing and turn to God, or we are in for very trying times. We, Americans are all gity of this tragedy, either, by commission of by ommission. So please Mr. Santorum, keep the faith and keep walking to save our country. May God keep you in His Gentle care.
Pauline
Avila Power
1 year ago
Rick and his wife are the most beautiful people, couple parents and friends in the Universe. How I wished I live in the United States and I could vote him in as the next President. He has the ability power and strength to change the American way of thinking and the world. Rick I will be praying for you and your beautiful family. Congratulations on every word that you say to inspire everyone. You are indeed a real man of GOD. Totally committed to your Faith and beliefs. Good Luck and may God bless you and your wonderful family.

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