Religious Conservatives Rally behind Santorum

CNSNews.com ^ | 4/25/03 | Christine Hall

[kattracks]

(CNSNews.com) - Religious conservatives are defending comments made by Senate Republican Conference Chairman Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) about a state sodomy law pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Santorum said in an interview taped on April 7 by the Associated Press that if the Supreme Court strikes down the Texas law and establishes a constitutional right to "consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything."

He went on to say that the definition of marriage has never included homosexuality, "man on child, man on dog or whatever the case may be."

If the Court rules against the sodomy law, that could undermine the fabric of society, Santorum charged.

The senator has since defended his comments, saying that he was merely using the language and comparisons from a 1996 Supreme Court decision upholding a sodomy law.

"To suggest that my comments, which are the law of the land and were the reason the Supreme Court decided the case in 1986 [Hardwick] are somehow intolerant, I would just argue that it is not," Santorum said on April 23 at a town hall meeting in Williamsport, Pa.

Democrats and liberal groups, like the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, are calling on Santorum to apologize, resign his office or resign his leadership post. But religious conservatives are supporting Santorum.

"What Senator Santorum did was stand up for the United States Constitution and stand up for the American family and say, this is a really dangerous proposition that the Untied States Supreme Court is considering right now," said Jesse Binnall, a spokesman for Public Advocate of the United States, a family values advocacy group that held a small pro-Santorum rally on Capitol Hill Thursday.

The rally featured about half a dozen activists wearing black-and-white striped prison garb or old-fashioned, English-style police uniforms. The activists sang songs railing against liberal efforts at "thought control" and "intolerance" of Christian conservative views.

The Traditional Values Coalition is leading a petition drive (\ul \ulnone ) in support of Santorum.

Bill Devlin, a Democratic committeeman in the city of Philadelphia and vice president of the Urban Family Council, says liberal critics are playing a political hand in going after Santorum.

"This is character assassination because George Bush is doing so well, there's nothing really they can go after him on," said Devlin.

"Rick Santorum absolutely should not step down," Devlin continued. "This is not another Trent Lott because Trent Lott obviously offended people based upon race, which is unchangeable and morally neutral, whereas Santorum was addressing...sexual behavior, which is changeable [and] morally significant."

But People for the American Way is one of the many liberal groups critical of Santorum's remarks. They demonstrate a "history of hostility toward equal rights for all Americans," said President Ralph G. Neas. "That hostility is reflected in the attitudes of the Republican Party leaders and many of the judicial nominees of President Bush."

Other critics of the Santorum comments include the "gay-straight" Republican Unity Coalition (which includes former President Gerald R. Ford and Mary Cheney, daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney) and the head of one of Utah's biggest polygamist sects, the United Apostolic Brethren, which is based near Salt Lake City.

The Texas case at the center of the controversy, Lawrence v. Texas , involved two men convicted of violating the state's sodomy law. The Supreme Court will decide whether the law violates any constitutional rights to privacy or violates the 14th Amendment equal protection clause by unfairly targeting same-sex couples.

A decision is expected in June.

See Earlier Stories:
'Gay' Activists Target Santorum for Alleged Discrimination (April 23, 2003)
Homosexuals Ask Supreme Court to Strike Down Sodomy Laws (March 27, 2003)

E-mail a news tip to Christine Hall.

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.

[Conservative Me]

fanatic

\Fa*nat"ic\, a. [L. fanaticus inspired by divinity, enthusiastic, frantic, fr. fanum fane: cf. F. fanatique. See Fane.] Pertaining to, or indicating, fanaticism; extravagant in opinions; ultra; unreasonable; excessively enthusiastic, especially on religious subjects; as, fanatic zeal; fanatic notions.

But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast To some dear falsehood, hugs it to the last. --T. Moore.


Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

---

Better watch out, I may destroy your world. BOOOOO!!! LMAO

[f.Christian]

Main Entry: fas·cism
Pronunciation: 'fa-"shi-z&m also 'fa-"si-
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces
Date: 1921
1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control < early instances of army fascism and brutality -- J. W. Aldridge >
- fas·cist /-shist also -sist/ noun or adjective, often capitalized - fas·cis·tic /fa-'shis-tik also -'sis-/ adjective, often capitalized
- fas·cis·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb, often capitalized

Only lead foil can save us now...

if you don't want your brain/family sterilized---

the shield between state and TALIBAN--religion(evolution/atheism) is gone...

this is... chernobyl---radiation poisoning...

NUCLEAR SOCIAL----ALIEN ANTARTICA/AMERICA!!

[Conservative Me]

Well, you obviously know nothing about Atheism. I should expect no less. Feel free to do some research from non-Christian websites for factual information. Sites like belief.net are wonderful. I would give you some Atheist sites, but I am sure you won't bother to read up on anything anyway.

Just remember...Judge not lest ye be judged...

[Conservative Me]

You are too funny. Equating Atheism to facism only solidifies your fanaticism.

[f.Christian]

The Bible says ...

evil people do not understand judgement ---

but they that seek the Lord will know all things !

[Conservative Me]

ROFL

Yes...I am EVIL...better watch out.

People like you make it hard for people like me to be Republican.

[Conservative Me]

You also do more to turn people away from your faith than you do to bring people in.

Jesus Christ taught love and forgiveness during his life as portrayed in the Bible. You teach hate and fear.

Hmmmm.... which would you choose?

[f.Christian]

Good News For The Day

‘But I say to all of you: In the future, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the mighty One.’ (Matthew 26:64)

"If the universe is moral, (and the fact that such a person as Christ existed, is strong evidence that it is), then what Jesus said about himself and the future, must come true. If morality has an infinite source, and backing, then the moral excellence of Christ will ultimately... triumph---over evil."

"I know some very agreeable people. I know some that I would call gentle giants. But their easygoing spirit is never a threat to greed and corruption. Kindness, patience, understanding, and love are not better than envy and bitterness, if they only ever exist as counterweights to their opposites. A good man who is content to coexist forever with badness, and wrong, cannot be a good man in any absolute sense."

"The goodness of Jesus is surpassing because he not only sorrowed over sin, and was outraged by it, he set himself against it, and warned his enemies that by suffering for it, he would rise above it, and eliminate it."

"If our universe is a moral one, then Jesus' values can never be viewed in any offhand way. Rather, he must be seen as a hazard to every act, motive, system, institution, or law, that is not in sympathy with him. A question that governments and their constituents ought to ask is: Are we making laws; invoking policies that clash with Christ and the direction of his Spirit? If so we are building badly. The universe itself will not back us. The future belongs to Christ-and to all who follow him."

[f.Christian]

fC ...

Ain't that the truth ...

cj ...

Then I wonder why there are no threads allowed in the news forum for the purpose of proselytizing valid religions?



Jim, these daily Objectivist ((evolution // atheism )) * * threads are becoming soapboxes for the malicious slamming of Christianity and conservatism, and are of interest to only a tiny fraction of the News forum. Shouldn't these types of threads appear in a philosophy, religion, chat, or RLC forum rather than in the News/Activism?

12 posted on 04/24/2003 5:14 PM PDT by Cultural Jihad

... * * ... my addition !

[Conservative Me]

Who is slamming Christianity? I am not. I think faith does wonders for certain people and certain people need faith. Just because I don't believe it to be valid doesn't mean I have any more proof that a God/god exists than the next person, or hold it against anyone who believes. On the contrary, I am the one who is persecuted for my lack of faith.

[June Cleaver]

Well, I'd like for you to define your tripleX religious right! I'm also curious as to how you came to be conservative, i.e. what are your standards and what do you base them on? Now be nice!!

[Conservative Me]

Nice nic, btw. Very cute.

The tripleX religious right are the people even most Christians don't want to be associated with. They are the David Koreshes (sp?) of Christianity. That is the best way I can explain it. They are those who think only those in their congregation could possibly get in to Heaven because they are the only ones worthy. They are the ones who forget the atrocities at the hands of Christians (i.e. the Crusades, Salem Witch Trials, etc.). They think they can do no wrong in the eyes of the Lord. They can not be humbled.

In college I was more liberal than you can imagine. I went to a state college that was as politically correct as you could get. It was a real eye opener. I met my husband there who was conservative, quite a contrast to me. Basically, I opened my eyes and stopped being a sheep. My whole outlook changed.

It seems like you are inferring that conservativism and Christianity go hand in hand. I don't want to make this assumption if that is not what you meant in your post. Faith does not make you a moral person, and certainly does not decide your political affiliation.

[June Cleaver]

One other thought, Conservative You . . . You said Christians . . . "think they can do no wrong in the eyes of the Lord. They can not be humbled." That statement is the very antithesis of what being a Christian means. We can do no RIGHT in the eyes of the Lord . . . hence the need for redemption, forgiveness, etc. To come to the Lord we MUST humble ourselves . . . too few folks today want to do that!!

[Salvation]

Catholic Church asks Tom Daschle to stop calling himself a Catholic

On Catholic Politicians and Faith

Vatican Urges Catholic Politicians to Vote Along Church Lines

Senator Santorum on Being Catholic and a Politician

William E. Simon, Sr. and Jr. Devout Catholics, Philanthropists and Politicians

Deadly Dozen senator taken to task over claims of Catholicism

THE BISHOP AND THE SENATOR [author links to FR thread regarding Daschle in her online column]

[Conservative Me]

But, June, you just made my point. The tripleX right wingers, which is who I was describing, are, in my opinion, the antithesis of what Christians are.

[June Cleaver]

Oops! My first post back to you blooped . . . anyway those groups you mention are what I consider psycho cults!! Please don't lump them in with "Christians."

Glad your college experience turned you around ; ) usually it works the other way. But seriously, I'm curious as to how you make your judgements, you must have a "plumb line" for your standards. I am inferring that conservatism and Christianity go hand in hand . . . if you live by Christian principles, it affects everything you do, right down to your political affiliation. How could it not?!

[KeyBored]

"How is it that hate crimes punish Christians?"

Depends - on how broadly one defines "hate crimes".

Murder is a "hate crime", but it is illegal to murder.
Assault is a "hate crime", but it is illegal to assault someone.
Theft, slander - all can be "hate crimes" - you get the idea. Ask yourself - why is it necessary to attach an additional label to something that is already illegal?

What about quoting the Bible - Romans chapter 12 to be exact. That deals with homosexuality. If some proponents of "hate crimes" had their way, it would be illegal for a pastor to speak out on this topic to his church. It is already illegal in Canada to quote on broadcast airwaves certain passages of the Bible dealing with this topic.

IMO "hate crimes" = "thought crimes". A little to close to being Orwellian for my taste.

[Conservative Me]

Going by your definition, all Christians would be conservative, which, obviously, is not true. Also, how do you classify those of different faiths? They are not politically affiliated by religion only.

Honestly, it is just common sense, IMHO. We should not murder, we should not cheat on our spouses or encourage others to cheat on their spouses, etc. It is about knowing the difference between right and wrong. Most of us do, it is just whether we choose to adhere to that knowledge.

[Conservative Me]

About the cults...

You may consider them cults, but they still consider themselves Christians. I can only go by the affiliation they give themselves, but I do understand how you could feel that way. Like I said in my earlier post, they are the those that most Christians would not like to be associated with. It is that group of fanatics that turn people away from Christianity.

The whole idea of being a Christian, IMO, is to be Christ-like. Christ was not hateful, judgemental, etc. He was loving and caring. He wanted to help others, not condemn them. THAT, IMO, is the difference between a TRUE Christian and those who only claim to be a Christian for the sake of salvation.

BTW, I was not always an Atheist. As a matter of fact, I was raised in a Christian household, although non-practicing. My father was raised in a Catholic orphanage (I went to Catholic school as a child) and my mother is Methodist.

[Conservative Me]

I see your point. My husband and I have spoken about this many times. I don't understand the whole "hate crime" mentality. In some cases hate crime penalties are sought in non-hate crime cases. Also, the legislation goes one way only. How often do you think hate crime punishments will be sought for crimes against the straight white male? My guess is never.

In Canada you are talking about socialism. They are very strict with their airwaves even about war opinions. I used to live near Albany, NY. There was a Clear Channel Station that reached into Canada. Every once in a while you would get Canadian callers excited to be able to voice their opinions on the airwaves and hear someone who shared their opinions.