Santorum refuses to retract connecting Boston liberalism to church abuses

[cyberpj]

Santorum resolute on Boston rebuke
Insists liberalism set stage for abuse
By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff | July 13, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, the third-ranking Republican in the Senate, refused yesterday to back off on his earlier statements connecting Boston's ''liberalism" with the Roman Catholic Church pedophile scandal, saying that the city's ''sexual license" and ''sexual freedom" nurtured an environment where sexual abuse would occur.

''The basic liberal attitude in that area . . . has an impact on people's behavior," Santorum said in an interview yesterday at the Capitol.

''If you have a world view that I'm describing . . . that affirms alternative views of sexuality, that can lead to a lot of people taking it the wrong way," Santorum said.

Santorum, a leader among Christian conservatives, was responding to questions about remarks he made three years ago on a website called Catholic Online. In those comments, Santorum said, ''It is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political, and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm" of the clergy sexual abuse scandal.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/07/13/santorum_resolute_on_boston_rebuke/

[WildClarySage]

1. Yeah, everyone knows the catholic church priesthood is sooooo

liberal. :sarcasm:

[Bluerthanblue]

13. What Sanitarum doesn't know, or if he does would never DARE

acknowledge, is that sexual abuse is RAMPANT in 'non-catholic' churches as well. The difference is that there is a 'governmental hierarchy' in the Catholic Church- and while i in NO WAY condone the way this was covered up by those in authority- at least it WAS exposed.

Many 'evangelical' and 'independent' churches answer to NO ONE- and the abuse that goes on there is no less heinous- actually it is often more so, because there is no where to go for help-... and women are often complicit because they are told to be 'submissive' to their husbands, and elders-

This man is a jerk- and an ignorant fool- i can give anyone who is interested links to information about the sexual and physical abuse that is occuring, and has occurred in protestant churches if they are interested. It is an 'un-known' horror story of it's own.

[wallwriter]

2. So Santorum is saying that all of the training and avowal

leading up to the priesthood isn't enough to keep priests from abusing little boys and girls? What the fuck ever happened to personal responsibility?

[cyberpj]

3. And where are the Dems - besides Kennedy - demanding HIS apology?

We let them squash Durbin under their boots but I'm not hearing much about this at all.

If that's because of Rove, though, I'm ok with it.

[bunny planet]

12. Kerry made a public statement against Santorum's remarks as well.

I think KerryGoddess posted it here yesterday.

[Mass]

19. There has also been a letter by the complete MA congressional delegation

asking for Santorum to apologize, as well as statements by most of our Representatives.

[harrison]

4. Gee that sounds like the old liberal argument that society makes

a person commit crimes, etc. In other words, I couldn't help it; I was overwhelmed by the culture in which I grew up.

Funny to hear a Republican espouse this argument. No personal responsibility eh, Senator?

[seabeyond]

5. yet their party is known for doing animals n/t

[Inland]

6. How come the only aspect of liberalism the church picks up is something

I never even heard being a liberal issue, namely, diddling kids.

I mean, most people who hang out around liberals end up being for big government or gay marriage or something.

But somehow, all the priests managed to learn was pederasty, which we can all agree isn't in the top ten important liberal ideas.

How come liberals are so influential in an area they don't espouse and get ignored in all the things they stridently argue for?

Could it be because Santorum is full of shit in the first place?

[cyberpj]

11. Good points. And sounds like at LTTE to me. nt.

[SHRED]

7. It happens in a CONservative institution,...

the Catholic Chruch, and Ricky blames "liberalism"?

What a fucking idiot.

[Patrick_Star]

8. Just like Falwell

Except Falwell at least apologized for claiming that liberalism brought on the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He (rightfully so) caught a lot of flak for that comment. I hope that people of Pennsylvania make a statement when Santorum is up for re-election about having their Senator spew this kind of baseless, ad hominum attack.

[Mythsaje]

9. He's a stupid fucker

assuming that just because this stuff has suddenly become public, it hasn't been going on for CENTURIES. The sexual predation of certain members of the priesthood has been the stuff of legend for a LONG time. What this sudden scandal reflects is the fact that the clergy has lost its veneer of holiness...despite the church's every attempt to keep it in place.

Blaming liberal culture for this is absurd... but quite in keeping with Santorum's disconnect with reality.

[RetroLounge]

10. If he said that in my old neighborhood, he would get his ass kicked

as a matter of fact, maybe someone in Boston should take enough offense to punch little ricky in the nose.

RL

[kenny blankenship]

14. Ban his plastic ass from the city limits!

[SpiralHawk]

15. Santorum may imagine that liberalism leads to sex abuse

But it is really the control, repression and sanctimony of so-called conservative institutions like the Catholic Church, the "Christian" evalgelicals, and the hypocricy of the Republicans that are -- in my view -- what leads to abuse.

Liberalism leads, in general, to healthy, informed, mature sexual relationships, not the hidden, pervy shit that the Repubs, like Jeff Gannon and his Bush White House friends are into.

[xxqqqzme]

16. didn't I hear on AAR,

don't remember the show, that more cases of priestly pederasty occurred in Kentucky. (actually I think it was on Thom Hartmann nor AAR)


I hope the people of PA are ready to rid us of this hate-spreading, rat bastard. He really, really needs 2 B yanked off the national stage! Everytime I recall his dead fetus story - 'culture of life' is not my first reaction.

[mom cat]

17. Santorum is just pandering to the right-wing base. They might not

get what they want in the new Supreme Court appointee, so they have to be thrown a few bones of liberal bashing.

[Hippo_Tron]

18. Santorum, isn't that Latin for asshole?

[bunny planet]

20. and Pennsylvania refuses to re-elect Santorum.

[cyberpj]

26. From your mouth to God's ear please. nt.

[leesa]

21. I just watched the old movie, 'Inherit the Wind'...very sad, they used the

same arguments and accusations..libruls cause depravity, yet somehow it is usually the righteous right that is PRACTICING depravity. It's our fault!

[Mandate My Ass]

22. Santorum and Pope Ratzy are both Opus Dei - Ratzy routine protects

pedophile priests. He has said on the record that he thinks the American media is making up the priest abuse issue. Remember who Ratzy featured during JPII's funeral mass, despite ample protest, none other than pedophile enabler extraodinaire, Cardinal Law. This was a very symbolic message to the United States about how this pope would deal with this issue.

[cyberpj]

25. Do you know where he said that about American media?

I'd love to find a link to support my argument with a neighbor about this Pope.

[SF Bay Area Dem]

23. So exactly what has Santorum REALLY done for PA?

Besides make them look bad with his brand of BS... time for him to go and I am sure the good people of Penn will see to it that he is sent packing. After all look at how blue the state became in 2004...

[nevergiveup]

24. Santorum is scum

Every time I listen to this guy my blood pressure rises to a dangerous level. I have my checkbook out and am ready to write a check. When is the primary or does he already have an opponent? Where do I send the check?