Rick Santorum’s Cafeteria Catholicism

By Jack Hunter

On Bill O’Reilly’s FOX News program Wednesday night, Rick Santorum found himself defending his views on contraception. Reports Mediaite:

“It’s going to be a national demonization and you’re going to be portrayed as an extremist,” O’Reilly explained, “and some of your views are out of the mainstream according to polls.” He noted in particular that 98% of Americans support the freedom to use contraceptives, while Santorum believes states have a right to ban them. Santorum noted that the Vatican had restricted the use of them and that he believed states that approved of them should be able to legalize them as well.

Added Santorum: Bill, you’re a Catholic, Catholic Church teaches contraceptive is something you shouldn’t do.

O’Reilly continued to chide Santorum for his supposedly “extreme” views, but I applaud the Senator. There should be more Americans willing to stick to their faith even when it is unpopular or they stand in the minority. There was a time when more Americans agreed with Santorum about contraception. This doesn’t necessarily make Santorum’s position any more or less right or wrong, only more or less popular. Big difference.

But the problem with Santorum is he picks and chooses when to stick to his Catholic faith. The Vatican is so dedicated to protecting life that it looks down on contraception, but the same is true of its view of “preventive war.” There is a time for war, says Catholic teaching, but…

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