Posted 12:51 am Wednesday, February 22, 2012
In Today’s Environment, Statements Of Faith Bold
Those ashes you’ll be seeing today on a few foreheads? They’re a bold and welcome public statement about something we’re told we should be quiet about — religion.
Today is Ash Wednesday, and Catholics (as well as a few Protestant denominations) mark the start of Lent in a quite literal way, with ashes on the foreheads of the faithful.
It’s a relatively quiet “statement” in these loud and strident times. But just as we’re being told it’s unfashionable and even offensive to declare our own faiths in public, the wearing of that simple sign indicates both conviction and courage.
Rick Santorum, a devout Catholic, will no doubt be so marked today. But for several weeks now, he’s been battered in the press and by his fellow GOP presidential candidates for those beliefs — not merely because he holds them, but (usually when asked), he expresses them.
Today is Ash Wednesday, and Catholics (as well as a few Protestant denominations) mark the start of Lent in a quite literal way, with ashes on the foreheads of the faithful.
It’s a relatively quiet “statement” in these loud and strident times. But just as we’re being told it’s unfashionable and even offensive to declare our own faiths in public, the wearing of that simple sign indicates both conviction and courage.
Rick Santorum, a devout Catholic, will no doubt be so marked today. But for several weeks now, he’s been battered in the press and by his fellow GOP presidential candidates for those beliefs — not merely because he holds them, but (usually when asked), he expresses them.
“A Catholic father of seven whose kids are home-schooled, Santorum may seem to wear his conservatism as comfortably as his sweater vests,” the Associated Press reasoned over the weekend.
“But he’s walked a careful path, keeping the more provocative opinions that helped sink his re-election to the Senate in 2006 mostly out of his presidential campaign. That is until he leaped to the top of the polls, alongside Mitt Romney. Now Santorum’s record on social issues is getting a closer look. On several matters, he’s outside the Republican mainstream. And if he becomes the GOP nominee, some of his ideas would likely be surprising, even puzzling, to general election voters.”
And they’re the usual issues lazy pundits call the “culture wars.”
“Most Americans don’t share Rick Santorum’s absolutist take on abortion,” the AP contends. “He’s out of step on women in combat. He questions the values of the two-thirds of mothers who work. He’s even troubled by something as commonplace as birth control — for married couples.”
Now, maybe that’s true. And maybe it’s true that very few Catholics, even, observe that part of the Church’s doctrine.
“But he’s walked a careful path, keeping the more provocative opinions that helped sink his re-election to the Senate in 2006 mostly out of his presidential campaign. That is until he leaped to the top of the polls, alongside Mitt Romney. Now Santorum’s record on social issues is getting a closer look. On several matters, he’s outside the Republican mainstream. And if he becomes the GOP nominee, some of his ideas would likely be surprising, even puzzling, to general election voters.”
And they’re the usual issues lazy pundits call the “culture wars.”
“Most Americans don’t share Rick Santorum’s absolutist take on abortion,” the AP contends. “He’s out of step on women in combat. He questions the values of the two-thirds of mothers who work. He’s even troubled by something as commonplace as birth control — for married couples.”
Now, maybe that’s true. And maybe it’s true that very few Catholics, even, observe that part of the Church’s doctrine.
But bless Rick Santorum for the courage to voice his beliefs.
Even the GOP presidential field has been taking shots at Santorum for his stances.
“I think it’s a losing proposition,” Rep. Ron Paul said on Sunday.
He went on to affirm his own pro-life beliefs, but said “we should not nationalize these problems.”
We can debate the separation of church and state until we’re all blue in the states. And no doubt we will continue to do so. But to his credit, Rick Santorum hasn’t talked about “nationalizing” any of these issues, any more than Ron Paul or Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich have. They’ve all signed the same pledges. And they all strongly condemned President Barack Obama for his administration’s attempt to force religious institutions to underwrite a practice (birth control) they abhor.
The difference is Santorum, albeit dogged by reporters on such issues, doesn’t back down, doesn’t equivocate and doesn’t change the subject when asked about religious issues.
Perhaps that’s unwise. Perhaps as a presidential candidate, he should be more adept at changing the subject. That’s what Obama himself did in 2008, when he was asked about gay marriage, for example.
But Santorum should be commended for taking a stand. He’s making a public statement when such statements aren’t popular.
Like those wearing their ashes today, he’s showing courage.
Even the GOP presidential field has been taking shots at Santorum for his stances.
“I think it’s a losing proposition,” Rep. Ron Paul said on Sunday.
He went on to affirm his own pro-life beliefs, but said “we should not nationalize these problems.”
We can debate the separation of church and state until we’re all blue in the states. And no doubt we will continue to do so. But to his credit, Rick Santorum hasn’t talked about “nationalizing” any of these issues, any more than Ron Paul or Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich have. They’ve all signed the same pledges. And they all strongly condemned President Barack Obama for his administration’s attempt to force religious institutions to underwrite a practice (birth control) they abhor.
The difference is Santorum, albeit dogged by reporters on such issues, doesn’t back down, doesn’t equivocate and doesn’t change the subject when asked about religious issues.
Perhaps that’s unwise. Perhaps as a presidential candidate, he should be more adept at changing the subject. That’s what Obama himself did in 2008, when he was asked about gay marriage, for example.
But Santorum should be commended for taking a stand. He’s making a public statement when such statements aren’t popular.
Like those wearing their ashes today, he’s showing courage.
