Ann Coulter, I Am More of a Catholic than a Conservative, Just Like Rick Santorum

By Keith A. Fournier
1/11/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

When liberalism loses its soul, it becomes libertinism. When conservatism loses its soul, it becomes libertarianism

Ann Coulter's criticism of Rick Santorum for being "more of a Catholic than a Conservative" makes me want to do even more to help people come to understand his positions. You see, I consider myself more of a Catholic than a Conservative. As for Ann Coulter, while she continues her act as a conservative political gadfly, more and more people are beginning to pay attention to Rick Santorum.

Ann Coulter

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - On January 4, 2012, Ann Coulter - the incendiary, controversial, self promoting gadfly of a conservative columnist - turned her sites on Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum. Ironically, Coulter made a name for herself by allegedly being anti-establishment. That was until October of 2011.

Then, she surprised many on the political left and the political right - and many in between. She endorsed the Republican establishment's candidate, Mitt Romney, for the Republican nomination in 2012 very early in the primary campaign.

Rather than question what might have prompted such an endorsement, I want to discuss her efforts to harm the candidacy of a very good man, Rick Santorum. I believe they reveal bigger problems with serious implications.

In a recent column Coulter made comments which reveal something I have addressed before, latent Anti-Catholicism in some circles of the conservative movement. Before I continue, let me clarify something. I have zero tolerance for what calls itself the "liberal" or "progressive" political movement - the leaders of which have captured the other major American political party.

Oh, I know the political Party calling itself Democratic has its Catholic spokesmen and women. Many fill the chairs of the pundit class of the main stream media. However, many also sold their Catholic convictions for a bowl of political porridge like Esau in the biblical story. (Gen. 25)

They have rejected the foundational Right to life upon which is predicated any of their purported concern for the human rights of anyone else. They are morally incoherent.

In a recent column Ann Coulter wrote: "Santorum is not as conservative as his social-issues credentials suggest. He is more of a Catholic than a conservative.Santorum may not be a big spender as far as professional politicians go, but he is still a professional politician. In 2005, one of his former aides described him as "a Catholic missionary who happens to be in the Senate.

"The Catholic missionary was fantastic on issues like partial-birth abortion, but more like a Catholic bishop in his support for No Child Left Behind.Santorum cites his father's admonition to put any extra money in the poor box at church to explain his wanting to use the federal government to help the poor.

"You get only one or two big issues in a presidential campaign. But in the middle of the second Great Depression, Santorum is on the campaign trail saying, "The reason I ran is 'cause I think people know there is more than just a little narrow issue called 'jobs.' " - Actually, this year, it's pretty much just jobs."

Coulter's comments help explain why Catholics like me consider ourselves to be 'reluctant Republicans." She was derisive of Rick Santorum's concern for the poor. She mocked his insistence upon the connection between moral, social and economic issues. She was condescending and dismissive of his integrated campaign message.

Rick Santorum's affirmation of our obligation in solidarity - to do what we can to increase opportunities for the poor to participate in our free economy - is one of the reasons I find his economic proposals so compelling.

Santorum understands that freedom is a good of the human person. Further that he sees that the market economy, as promising as it is, requires the continual expansion of opportunities for participation. Many of us who are inspired by him are from blue collar backgrounds. Our ancestors did not come over on the Mayflower. We care about the poor and cringe when any candidate seems to lack concern for them.

However, we also now know that big government does a horrible job of providing care for them and that collectivism - be it of the right or the left - is anything but the solution. We want a candidate who speaks of opening up economic participation in the American dream to as many as possible. One who recognizes that the market was made for man, not man for the market.

Recently I heard Rick Santorum defend his proposal to increase the child tax credit in order to help parents, promote the family and grow our economy. He accurately explained the fact that a demographic winter is leading many Nations in Europe to do all they can to increase the birth of children.

He then persuasively argued that America needs to encourage strong families because strong families build a strong Nation. He is correct. The family is the first society, first economy, first school, first civilizing and mediating institution and first government. All other government grows out of - and must support and not usurp - the primacy of this first government.

In 2005 I wrote a review of Senator Santorum's book "It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good". Here are a few excerpts:

"The Author acknowledges ...

1 | 2 Next Page

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 10 of 40 Comments

Peter Castle
2 months ago
Coulter's conservative and Christian credentials are deftly called into question in the book, The Gospel According to Ann Coulter, available for free at www/CoulterWatch.com/gospel.pdf.
Judy
1 year ago
Dr. Ross Lyon: Thank you for your input. I am sure you have opened some eyes, and established confirmation in other readers. I totally agree w/you. Blessings...
Dr. Ross Lyon, Clear Bible Teaching Ministries
1 year ago
Rick Santorum was my senator for 8 years. He lost for good and moral reasons. He stood for life and tried to bring about federal law to save a woman who was called "vegetative like a new born infant." The courts wrenched this woman from her parents, who were willing to take care of her. The husband in his greed wanted her inheritance. So the intravenous tubes were pulled and the poor woman suffered dehydration and starvation for two and half weeks and then expired. My fellow Pennsylvanians thought he had intruded with the federal government to assault a person who was now "like a vegetable." This demonstrated the moral decay in our society and how valiant for morality was our senator.

I am not a Roman Catholic, I am an ordained Baptist minster. What Rick Santorum conveys is a true Christian statesmanship or moral courage and conviction. He exemplifies the kind of leadership in government that was held up to me in my seminary days some 49 years ago.

If Santorum strays a bit into federalsim at times, he at least has a moral compass. Ann Coulter stated she is fervently pro-life. Then she supported Mrs. Clinton over John MacCain. Here is one of the most anti-life politicians, as well as socialist in many of her views. I can only say that Coulter is just unstable in her moral/political convictions. Morality and :"family values" are at the core of society. It pales compared to what inconsistencies a politician would have about federalism. Senator Santorum is very much a conservative. May be not perfect or sometimes slightly inconsistent, as at times Ronald Reagen or others have been.

However, Rick Santorum is not "too Catholic." He's a consistent, Christian statesman, unlike the occupier in the White House who professes to be a Christian, or Ann Coulter the "conservative columnist." The Rev. Ross D. Lyon, D.Min.
Bulbajer
1 year ago
Judy and Beth, good points. Thanks.
Bryan D.
1 year ago
Well produced article......
Beth
1 year ago
Bulbajer - That may seem to be the case (although I am not one of them). However - and I am not a demographer, so take it for what it's worth - I do believe there's a difference b/t an influx of immigrants, most of whom are of working age and filling low-skill jobs, versus a steady population growth over time driven mainly by births. A couple with five children will raise them over the course of 20-plus years, working, spending and paying taxes all along the way, and probably sending at least a few of those children to college to pursue a profession. That is different economically from five adult immigrants entering the country illegally and accepting any menial job they can get. Again, I don't have the same immigration obsession that so many "conservatives" seem to have - but I don't think it's completely contradictory to be concerned about immigration and not about "overpopulation" with regard to birth rates.
Judy
1 year ago
Bulbajer: I don't think so. But then, that's me.
Bulbajer
1 year ago
A comment: it seems to me that some of the people who say we're underpopulated also advocate stricter immigration laws because, among other reasons, immigrants are purportedly taking our jobs.
Judy
1 year ago
D. Keith: Great article! Our thought patterns are on the same page. I know the feeling of reluctant republican...but surely we do not want Obama! Huge Sigh. I use to like Ann c., but now I am sorry to say, I agree w/Freeda. (Don't know that I would be as bold as you w/words though Freeda, but, "if the shoe fits" I guess...). Rocky and Gonzo, you are correct too. I don't believe a word that comes out of her mouth...and I certainly don't read her books, injecting propaganda into my brain's computer! Yes, I believe at some point in time she was bought. Like I wonder? if those rep. w/$ such as Romney and Paul have Bought their indorsements? Set aside any Catholic neg. smear campaigns. Rob, this infighting, is not good. Isn't Obama the target? What about Newt asking them all not to do neg. c.? That is maturity. I dislike neg. campaigning anyway. I have voiced that before and the why's for it. Everett Mann, Where do you get your stats? John D, Vance, Gabreilla, Beth, and others Agree! When one is not the elite, and we are family, we plant bigger gardens! We work as we may, and pray. Usually all is well. Glad to see and hear you all again! Don't know how long it will be yet til I get back to computer status. Rick Santorum! Blessings...
Bill Conlon
1 year ago
God, Roman Catholisim, family, country, in that order say's it all.......

Prev12 3 4 Next

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment