When Santorum was out of politics the past few years he may have done the most damaging thing you can do to a political career -he told the truth as he saw it.

Yup. Santorum mentioned Satan in 2008 to a crowd at Ave Maria University. And the media just discovered this and is horrified. HE MENTIONED SATAN!!!!

This is being played out like some big scandal. It’s even headlining on Drudge. But is this a shock to the country? If so, should it be?

Santorum’s a Catholic. He believes in God like most Americans do. He believes in Satan like I’d imagine most do. (Am I still right about that? I wonder.) And yet saying that Satan is up to his ol’ tricks is somehow shocking?

Is this one of those things that’s shocking to the media elite and they’ll play it up and convince people who actually agree with Santorum that this is somehow waaaaay outside the mainstream. I sometimes wonder if the mainstream has somehow been convinced in this country they’re outside the mainstream.

So here’s the transcript of some of what he said that I think isn’t really damaging and then I’ll get to the part that might be:

Satan has his sights on the United States of America!” Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has declared.

“Satan is attacking the great institutions of America, using those great vices of pride, vanity, and sensuality as the root to attack all of the strong plants that has so deeply rooted in the American tradition.”…

“This is a spiritual war. And the Father of Lies has his sights on what you would think the Father of Lies would have his sights on: a good, decent, powerful, influential country – the United States of America. If you were Satan, who would you attack in this day and age?”

“He attacks all of us and he attacks all of our institutions.”

I gotta’ tell you – I think I’ve written those same sentiments dozens of times the past few years. But maybe I could never run for President. I actually don’t think that will hurt him too bad. Everyone knows Santorum is religious so I don’t think this’ll hurt too much. But like I said, maybe I’m not the best barometer of such things.

Now here’s where I think Santorum could be in a little political hot water. He also pointed to the state of many mainline Protestant denominations -accurately if you ask me but once again I remind you -I’m not electable.

Santorum said:

“We look at the shape of mainline Protestantism in this country and it is in shambles, it is gone from the world of Christianity as I see it.”

Gone from the world of Christianity? Eeeeh. Here’s the thing -a lot of Protestants won’t like that very much.

I think sometimes us Catholics forget that a lot of Protestants don’t really think so much of Catholics. They see them as Mary worshipers and Papists. I watch the Journey Home on EWTN every week. I love the show. But one thing I hear all the time is how these Christians are horrified at the prospect of becoming Catholic. I think the pro-life movement has done a lot to help us all get along but lots of Christians grew up hearing all sorts of bad things about Catholics. They don’t like what they’ve been told about the Catholic Church. And when a lot of Protestants hear that line from Santorum you’ll likely see that mistrust of Catholics bubble up to the surface in some quarters. Mind you, in context, I think lots of folks would agree with the point Santorum’s making but let’s face it -politics is not about putting your opponent in context.

The Satan stuff I think doesn’t convince anyone who would’ve supported Santorum not to. But I think his comments about mainline Protestantism will. We’ll see. I hope I’m wrong.