Santorum is notorious among civil libertarians for his deep-seated opposition to separation principles. It is a view that is becoming all the more common — as this column discusses.
If you recall, Kennedy used the speech to address anti-Catholic prejudice and doubts raised over his ability to be independent of Rome. Kennedy famously said “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote; where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference; and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the president who might appoint him or the people who might elect him.” For most Americans, it was a statement that made them feel proud. For Santorum, it may him feel woozy.
Last year at the College of Saint Mary Magdalen in Warner, N.H., Santorum told the crowd of JFK’s 1960 Greater Houston Ministerial Association speech, “Earlier in my political career, I had the opportunity to read the speech, and I almost threw up. You should read the speech.”
Santorum this weekend left no doubt about his rejection of separation principles: “I don’t believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute. The idea that the church can have no influence or no involvement in the operation of the state is absolutely antithetical to the objectives and vision of our country.”
He later answered that his statement was quite literal in wanting to throw up: “To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes you throw up. What kind of country do we live that says only people of non-faith can come into the public square and make their case? That makes me throw up.”
It is the ultimate expression of faith-based politics. Ironically, it is the type of intermingling of faith and government that many of our most implacable enemies might find appealing. Around the world, nations are reeling from the influence of religion on politics. Yet, in this island of stability of separation of church and state, Santorum appears to want to tear down the wall that has long defined our political system.
With the latest comments, we all may feel a bit woozy.
Source: Washington Post