A decade ago, the editors of Time magazine decided – during one of the many “Who the heck are these born-gain people?” moments in the recent life of the mainstream press – to do a cover story focusing on the 25 most influential evangelical Protestants in American life.
It was an interesting list. However, one name in particular raised many eyebrows – Sen. Rick Santorum. The issue? Santorum was and is a very conservative Roman Catholic.
This struck me as interesting, so I did some background research on this issue. The consensus was that the Time team realized that Santorum was not a Protestant – and thus, not an evangelical – but the larger truth was that he, well, “voted evangelical.”
Frankly, I have no idea what that means – in terms of doctrine. The point seemed to be that “evangelical” was a political term, these days. Moving on.
This brings me to an article that has been in my “GetReligion guilt file” for some time, a stunning recent Washington Post story about Rick and Karen Santorum and what they have learned about marriage, family and faith during the life of their daughter Bella, who was born with Trisomy 18, a usually lethal condition also known as Edwards syndrome, which is caused by a error in cell division.
There is much to praise in this very human and even raw story. However, it is obvious that at the heart of the piece is – to be blunt – the right-to-life beliefs that anchor this family. Thus, while dealing with faith issues in many ways, it is very strange that the piece never mentions that the Santorum are, you guessed it, Catholics.
What is the message there? That pro-abortion-rights Catholics in national political life remain Catholics, but those who actual embrace church teachings on several hot-button moral and cultural issues are, well, honorary “evangelicals” and no longer Catholic?
Folks, this is The Washington Post and Rick Santorum is a figure that millions of people love to hate. This is an unusually low-key and sympathetic mainstream news piece on this man and his family.
For me, the larger question is why the faith element of the story is framed in a completely nondenominational manner. Yes, editors may have thought that this approach might be a plus, for some readers. But there is only one name for the doctrinal and intellectual foundation underneath the actions of this particular family – Catholic.
This story comes from a February 19 getreligion.org article by Terry Mattingly.
These secular publications do not understand or care– that there is a difference. Important that Catholics do. “Evangelicals” are “Protestants”, meaning that they still “protest” the teachings of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Nice that Catholics and Protestants have some things in common, but we are not the same.
Less us face the fact that many “Catholics” have sold their souls for political power and Santorum is not one of them. They hate him because he and his family are living the Faith, and they are not. Pray he remains faithful to the end. You can help, too, by buying his book if you can.
Anne i met him and heard him speak. He is very firm in the faith. He is also a very humble person and most honest. God bless him. He is a good Catholic. Praise God. I pray he runs for President.
He cares for the workers, too, as his father was a coal miner and has their interests at heart.
“Evangelical Protestant” Rick Santorum for President of the United States!
LOL! Good one.
I used to think that Rick Santorum would make a great president. Then I began to read Daniel Larison’s articles about him from THE AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE. No Santorum for me, thank you.
Klaus its a pity. Its no wonder we will never move ahead. If this is how you feel about a good candidate, better than most, then im guessing that no one will ever be good enough for you. If its as easy as you comment here, then why dont you go ahead and run. Youll find out that there will always be some conservative not liking you for some reason and it maybe not so logical. Pax Christi.
I’m not the only one Albeca. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/markshea/2013/01/karl-keating-talks-common-sense.html
Klaus what is really your agenda here? I’m questioning your integrity. Santorum is pro-life, for the real definition of marriage and is honest too. Your comments here are irrelevant because they do not really show anything, they are only trying to discredit a good honest family man. Because of your comments, I am discerning that its not coming from a good place. The rest, well God be the judge.
…and God will be the judge of your judging and questioning the integrity of others, Abeca. Your agenda seems rather to be to discredit those with whom you do not agree, not to learn or grow or truly discern anything.
I thought you were giving that up.
Ann Malley you are remarkable with your hypocrisy. You will not silence me nor my freedom of expression to speak the truth. I am defending a good holy family man and you come on here to say such things….the truth is that you are the one with an agenda. I only care about the salvation of souls, you are outside of the church preaching your own schismatic views. So stop trying to intimidate me from dialoguing. everyone here is here to express themselves one form or another and not all obey God or are of good will, so stop with this style of your comments. This has nothing to do with what you say, its about sharing the love of faith and truth and I can tell your differs from mine. If you feel that I have an agenda, then look to Christ and you will find me there with Him, for it is His glory I am after, not YOURS.
Plus many here share opinions some are in union with what they have been shown from our Lord and some not. So you coming in with thread and throwing garbage when it was not about you, its about defending a good Catholic family man. You are just prideful because you do not like anyone contesting you. You are again with personal attacks, stick with topics and agree or disagree, its up to you. We all have the right here to agree or disagree…you know that. I just pray that it will be of good will.
Rick Santorum is hated by the Gaystapo and its media stooges in a manner that few others on the political scene ever have been, save for Faithful Catholics.
The campaign of hate propaganda against Rick is only overshadowed by the campaign to Censor his Outstanding points.
Amongst other things, Santorum Won the Iowa Caucuses and should have gotten a huge boost in 2012, but the lamesteam media and some RINO$ managed to scam the system just long enough for the moment to pass.
During 2012 Few were Attacked as Viciously by said Gaystapo & Paulbot allies as Santorum, when he was not being marginalized by our bought and paid for ‘free press’.
Homosex power broker peter thiel was an egregious example of the Anti-Santorum camp hiding behind ‘ron-paul-perot’ and funding all sorts of slurs in any medium available.
SEE S.F. billionaire quietly funds Ron Paul super PAC
“… Paul’s benefactor, San Francisco entrepreneur Peter Thiel, has never met the Texas congressman he’s aiding…
Born in Germany, he’s a self-made billionaire… He’s a lawyer who co-founded PayPal…
Who is this mystery man who has donated $2.6 million to Endorse Liberty, the pro-Paul super PAC that has produced several viral videos and sponsored sharp attack ads against Santorum…
He’s also a proud gay – causes including gay rights…”
https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/S-F-billionaire-quietly-funds-Ron-Paul-super-PAC-3361953.php
Just Announced! Benham Brothers will Speak at the Awakening 2015!
David and Jason Benham will join Franklin Graham, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, and a host of other outstanding national leaders at the Awakening 2015!
David and Jason were fired by HGTV for expressing their Christian beliefs, but instead of being bitter, the Benham brothers have turned the light on the attack on freedom of expression worldwide. Whether it be the terrorist attack on a satirical newspaper in Paris or the firing of an Atlanta fire chief, a battle is raging against freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
“It was one thing for us to lose a reality show on prime-time television for exercising our freedom of speech/expression/religion, but it’s a whole new ballgame when people are suspended without pay and then fired because of their beliefs – let alone murdered!” the Benham brothers said.
“So the question is what are we going to do about it? We believe it’s time to take a stand–whatever the cost. Although we can’t control the attacks, we can control how we react to them.”
Hear David and Jason Brenham instruct and inspire you to stand up and fight for our freedoms.
Notice that the Time cover is not what’s noted in the first paragraph of the story. The Time cover does not include the word “Protestant.” As with many issues, it depends upon how one defines a term, in this case, “evangelical” (with a small “e”). Others smarter and holier than me have suggested faithful, orthodox Catholics can be evangelicals, properly understood. Are religious men and women who follow the “evangelical” counsels somehow Protestant? The Catechism speaks positively of an “evangelical instinct” (CCC 1676 and 1679) and there’s nothing Protestant about it. I’m not trying to “stir the pot,” but I believe there’s no reason for alarm if a faithful Catholic happens to be identified in the secular press as an evangelical. To the world, faithful Christians of any tradition do look a lot alike.
I agree Deacon. Evangelical Catholic sounds good to me. St Jerome once said “ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ”
More Catholics today need to live the gospel, they need to have a personal relationship with Jesus and His church. In order to turn His church around for the better, we need to be faithful to His word and read the CCC. Praising Jesus and living in His word. St. Jerome understood this, that is why he preached that ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ! The infant church always memorized the psalms and other scripture passages. They where lovely and well versed. They breathed and live by His word and what His church taught. Today we see more and more Catholic faithful live this way. Even under the scandals and confusion, Christ’s flock are still enduring and deeply seeking a more rich and graceful relationship with Jesus.
When I attended a function that defended family values, Mr Santorum was there. He spoke very eloquently. He is also very approachable. From all the times I heard him speak and also from the facts I gathered on his loyalty, he is the real deal. He is human just like the rest of us. Mr. Michael McDermott is correct he is hated by the “gay’s”….that is why I do not believe all the information that tries to discredit this family man, because the homosexual activists try to deceive and try to get people to turn against each other, so the right people are often not voted in. Well you be the judge, get informed and pray that God will help you discern correctly. God bless.
“I thought you were giving that up.” wow …remarkable. So I stop posting and you already seem to assume what is up in people’s hearts and minds. Ann reread what you write. Is this how you live, always dictating or interpreting what is in people’s hearts? Look just say you disagree with me but stop with slandering or trying to insinuate or by interpreting people’s intentions, you are not always right nor do you know what is in my heart. Well Ann Malley it doesn’t matter, but it if made you feel better to say what you posted, well, I’ll let you vent. No problem, respectfully.