In an exclusive interview with Creative Minority Report, former Senator Rick Santorum leveled criticism at both Senator Bob Casey and U.S. Catholic bishops for their stands in the current healthcare debate, even going so far as saying he was “appalled” by the statements of the USCCB.
Santorum said he’s “not surprised” that Casey, a self professed pro-life Catholic, has declined to take a stand against abortion in the healthcare debate. Casey recently told CNS that he refused to draw “a line in the sand” over abortion.
Santorum said that kind of response is typical of Casey. “If it is convenient for him to vote pro-life he’ll do it but he’ll put other issues above abortion,” said Santorum. “And I don’t think he hides that. I think he’s been very upfront about it.”
Santorum added that it shouldn’t be a surprise that so many Catholic politicians ignore what the Church is saying. He said that for too long dissent from the teaching of the Church was ignored by bishops. “You have examples from the Kennedy’s on down. The Kennedys and the Cuomos. It was made clear that you can dissent from the Church and still be a Catholic in good standing” he said. “For a long time many bishops in country didn’t say too much about it.”
Santorum said abortion is dissent from core teaching that should never be compromised on. He said the silence from the bishops over the years “confused the faithful as to what the church teachings were because they didn’t condemn it in any practical way.”
Santorum made it clear that Casey puts the goals of the Democratic Party over the goals of the pro-life movement. “There are some real true pro-life Democrats and I applaud them” said Santorum. “They’re in a difficult situation because they are part of a radical pro-abortion party. I say pro-abortion not pro-choice. And resisting the culture in that party is very difficult.”
Casey has voted pro-life on many bills but failed to on others. Maria Vitale, Education Director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation said, “We are thankful for the times Senator Casey has voted pro-life and we’re disappointed when he does not.”
When contacted, Casey staffer John Richter said that Casey “favors” the current healthcare legislation. When asked whether abortion being in the bill gave the Senator pause, Richter answered, “Abortion’s not even mentioned in the bill.”
Santorum called that response “disingenuous.”
“They think pro-lifers are simpletons. That’s what they think of all pro-lifers – clinging to their guns and religion” said Santorum. “They treat you like you’re an idiot.”
Santorum pointed out that cancer treatments are also not explicitly named in the bill but that doesn’t mean that cancer patients won’t be treated.
Santorum’s words for Casey were tough but he had even tougher words for Catholic bishops. “I am appalled at the Catholic bishops,” said Santorum. “I commend them for drawing a line in the sand on abortion. But what they’ve suggested would do more damage than the abortion coverage.”
The USCCB has made strong statements against the healthcare bills because of the inclusion of abortion funding but have stated often that they would be in favor of the bill if that were excluded.
Santorum said socialized medicine would lead to “defacto euthanasia.”
“This would be a foundational change in America’s history that puts the government in control of people’s lives,” he warned.
Santorum warned that socialized medicine would inevitably lead to a devaluing of human life as it has in the other countries where it has been implemented. “The European healthcare system doesn’t make treatment readily available to people at end of life,” he said.
He pointed out that governments in charge of healthcare tend to look at treatments as “expenditures of public funds and they look for a return on their investment.”
He said preferential treatment will be spent on “useful lives,” he said, putting the disabled and the elderly at risk.
Santorum said that socialized medicine would assuredly lead to “the onrush of the culture of death” and should be opposed by anyone who wishes America to foster a culture of life.
November 6, 2009 at 3:25 am
God Bless Senator Santorum!
November 6, 2009 at 3:45 am
Right on Senator.
November 6, 2009 at 3:48 am
Not to be the pessimist in this case, but I have my doubts about the bishops standing firm.
http://exultetmeansrejoice.blogspot.com/2009/11/dog-that-didnt-bark-finally-barks.html
November 6, 2009 at 4:37 am
I think that the salient involvement of a goodly number of bishops over the Notre Dame-Obama fiasco in March is beginning to show that there is, at last, a stronger emerging moral voice among our prelates. Something must replace the Bernardin-USCCB legacy of capitulating to Evil through slippery concepts like comrpromise and dialogue. And playing footsy with the Devil in order to maintain a decaying popularity.
The USCCB has played Neville Chamberlain at Munich far too long and with results that have helped turn much of our beloved country in a moral cesspool.
November 6, 2009 at 4:47 am
I agree w/some of his criticisms, but Santorum lost a lot of credibility in my eyes with his support for Arlen Specter a few years back. Much as I don't like Casey (Jr.), it's understandable that Santorum lost his seat given his own compromise w/the culture of death.
November 6, 2009 at 7:26 am
Hey, excuse me, but I'm tired of hearing the bishops being bashed when they are finally showing some backbone. Did anyone here do anything to get the word out regarding the bishops' bulletin insert? Did anyone here do what they said and contact their congressmen/representatives this week?
There is nothing LESS Catholic than disloyalty to the magesterium. If Santorum is appalled by the bishops, then that's HIS problem and something that he needs to come to terms with as a Catholic, if that's how he identifies himself.
November 6, 2009 at 11:10 am
Hey Early Riser,
Newsflash: American Bishops have little if anything to do with the Magesterium. After conducting an on-going campaign of lies, deceit and manipulation over the past 6 years, with Dolan providing the latest example of self-pitying misdirection, you really should know that.
November 6, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Santorum made it clear that Casey puts the goals of the Democratic Party over the goals of the pro-life movement.
Kinda like when Santorum put the goals of the Republican Party over the goals of the pro-life movement when he endorsed pro-abortion Arlen Specter over pro-life Pat Toomey (how'd that work out for ya, Senator?). At the time, Senator Santorum said, "Arlen is with us on the votes that matter".
November 6, 2009 at 1:06 pm
He is right in pointing the cause of the confusion. What is important to know is why? Are the bishops afraid of compromising the tax exemption of the Church? Also see if there is a correlation between the bishops' stance and the demographics of his diocese and consider if he is to muting unpopular truths for the sake of popularity. Then there is the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. where we need Abp. Chaput to be. Currently Abp. Wuerl is even willing to give Holy Communion to pro-abort politicians if their home bishops do the same in defiance of canon 915. I don't know his motives. Biden and Pelosi can be intimidating but if you can face the devil in an exorcism, then you can face these mortals as well.
November 6, 2009 at 1:26 pm
As much as many people want to disregard two decades of pro-life votes because he endorsed Specter over Tooomey, let's remember that with Specter on the judiciary, we got Alito and Roberts on the Supreme Court because Republicans kept the majority for two more years.
If Toomey had won the primary and lost in the general, we likely wouldn't have two strong pro-life justices.
There is such a thing as strategy.
November 6, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Santorem betrayed us all , when he supported Specter. I doubt that I will ever trust him again….
November 6, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Oh, NOW he gets it. Two words: ARLEN SPECTER. That betrayal was unforgettable, embarrassing, perplexing, and then deteriorated into a simple case of raw political expediency.
He has some nerve, that pot, calling the kettle black. Maybe he needs money or something.
November 6, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Seriously folks, while I too disagreed with the Senator's decision to support Specter, the pro-life movement has no greater friend than Rick Santorum. You can disagree with a prudential decision he made, which anonymous rightly points out may have had benefits, but the level of vitriol for a true defender of life seems inappropriate and counterproductive.
November 6, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Let's not forget that Santorum had a pro-life choice in Pat Toomey. Santorum chose pro-death Specter. There is nothing "prudential" about that decision. Until Santorum publicly repents of that pro-death support, Santorum should not be given a platform to chastise the bishops or given our vote. Watch out for those Democrats in Republican Sheep's clothing. Just because Santorum has "Republican" behind his name means nothing to me. Walk the talk, Santorum, and you've got my vote. Oremus!
November 6, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Santorum's statement that the silence from the bishops over the years “confused the faithful as to what the church teachings were because they didn’t condemn it in any practical way.” is absolutley correct. No wonder Confession has practically no import to todays average Catholic. Whats to confess, what sin, what is sin except a vauge concept?
November 6, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I too am appalled, and have been appalled at the "no action" of Catholic Bishops for thirty years or more….
So now this is where we are, and it is very, very scarey.
Many, many prayers are needed for the people, and for the Bishops, especially those who have said NOTHING….
November 6, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Unbeliebavable. Some of you really do want to make the perfect the enemy of the great. Rick Santorum is one of the best Catholic voices in the political arena, and some of you are still obsessed over one (admittedly bad) endorsement the guy made. Get over it already.
November 6, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I'm intrigued by his assessment of socialism itself being a moral issue. It doesn't come up often but I see it as a necessary conversation.
November 6, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Hey people – a little history lesson here on the praises of Arlen Specter on the judiciary committee.
First, he was responsible for "borking" Robert Bork back in 1987.
Second, sure, he voted for Alito, but he also can count (unlike most Republicans), and he realized that to get a majority of 9 black-robed gods you need 5. And he and his ilk will never, I repeat, never, allow the pro-lifers to get a majority on the Supreme Court.
Third, we really don't know how Roberts and Alito would vote on an actual overturning of Roe, since the song and dance routine for confirmation of Supreme Court nominees before the Senate Judiciary Committee does not allow anti-Roe nominees to truthfully state their opinions if they want to be confirmed. (All due to the original "borking" by Specter and others back in 1987.) Roberts even stated that Roe was "settled law".
Fourth, he is now a pro-abortion Democrat in the Senate, thanks to the support of Santorum and the Republican party establishment (who suffer from the counting disease mentioned above).
November 6, 2009 at 4:35 pm
It's not just that he supported Arlen Specter, but that he supported Arlen Specter and then has the chutzpah to tell the Bishops they haven't stuck to their principles. He placed expediency over principle, and now chastizes the bishops for having done the same. Solid PL cred doesn't stop him from being a hypocrite.