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And here is the 2002 op ed where he blamed liberalism causing the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal Roland00 Send a noteboard - 07/01/2012 05:36:39 AM
It is the third paragraph where he blamed liberalism for corrupting America and because of the corrupt America priests abused young boys/men

http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=30

Fishers of Men
7/12/2002 - 3:30 PM PST

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Fishers of Men

By the Honorable Senator Rick Santorum

Like most American Catholics, I have followed the recent sex scandals in the Church with profound sympathy for victims, revulsion over priests who prey on minors and frustration at the absence of hierarchical leadership. Unlike most, I have been visited by the gift of hope; for I see in this fall an opportunity for ecclesial rebirth and a new evangelization of America. This "new evangelization," advocated strenuously by Pope John Paul II, has the potential for restoring confidence in the priesthood while empowering all American Catholics.

The most obvious change must occur within American seminaries, many of which demonstrate the same brand of cultural liberalism plaguing our secular universities. My hope was rekindled last week as our American Cardinals proposed from Rome an "apostolic visitation" of seminaries emphasizing "the need for fidelity to the Church's teaching, especially in the area of morality." It is an arduous task. However, the Pope made it clear last week that he expects the strong appeal of the Cardinals to be followed by decisive Episcopal action.

It is startling that those in the media and academia appear most disturbed by this aberrant behavior, since they have zealously promoted moral relativism by sanctioning "private" moral matters such as alternative lifestyles. Priests, like all of us, are affected by culture. When the culture is sick, every element in it becomes infected. While it is no excuse for this scandal, it is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm.

The cultural change needed cannot end with our seminaries. Most of the American Cardinals, while strong defenders of the faith , are from a different era with only a few responding to the new demands our decaying culture has place upon them. With God's grace, a new hierarchy must emerge that will be both faithful in thought and courageous in confronting all infidelity within the Church. Such Church leaders have a great example in Pope John Paul II's battle with communism's attempt to destroy the Church and human dignity. A new hierarchy must similarly fight against an array of "isms"-moral relativism, cultural liberalism-inside and outside of the Church.

Most importantly, I hope this crisis in the clergy will remind the laity of the call of Vatican II, a call the Pope has re-echoed throughout his incredible papacy. This is not just the hierarchy's church; it belongs to all the baptized. Pope John Paul II reminds us time and again of Luke's Gospel: "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." We are all called to be "fishers of men." Both clergy and laity have mutually supportive and indispensable roles in the "new evangelization" through administration of the sacraments and proclamation of the Gospel and all Church teachings.

Even now we witness this "new evangelization" through many ecclesial lay movements such as Opus Dei, the Neocatechumenate, Focolare, Regnum Christi, Communion and Liberation. The laity across America is also demanding faithful Catholic schools and colleges. The key to success, as the Pope stated in his 1999 exhortation, The Church in America, is to be "formed in the truths and values of the Church's social teaching and in the basic notions of a theology of the laity." A renewed, united effort of clergy and laity will transform the Church. That this does not already occur belies the greatest systemic failure of the Church in America where so many cradle Catholics have left the Church or go "unchurched" because of exposure to uninspired, watered down versions of our faith by those with deficient seminary training. In light of recent events, the laity must guide them back.

We as the Church, the people of God, cannot and should not leave the mission of the Church to the clergy alone, nor should our role be limited to overseeing priestly training and conduct. The laity must assist the whole Church in America reclaim our nominally Catholic colleges, schools, hospitals and social welfare agencies for the sake of our souls. The Pope reminds us that Catholic educational institutions make possible "a wide-ranging evangelizing effort as long as there is a clear will to impart truly Christian education. Many Catholic social service agencies, while serving the human needs, have been co-opted by a secular culture. The Pope calls them also to "faithfully reflect the attitude of Jesus who came to proclaim good news to the poor."

As a Catholic U.S. Senator, I am proud to see the Church, often alone, take one courageous stand after another on the great moral issues of the day: abortion, cloning, third world debt relief, AIDS and the breakdown of the family to name a few. The Catholic Church remains true to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the dictates of the natural law. Through 2000 years, the Church, built upon rock, has survived every arrow sinful man has shot at her from within and without. Another arrow has been loosed from within, piercing the Body of Christ. The time is now for the laity to come to her aid. We must heed the call of Christ through his Vicar on earth: Climb into Peter's boat and go into the deep!
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Santorum is #2 in Iowa - 04/01/2012 01:24:13 PM 1746 Views
would you stop using that word? It is gross. *NM* - 04/01/2012 01:48:45 PM 572 Views
What's your word for it? *NM* - 04/01/2012 03:43:44 PM 523 Views
Rövsmör. *NM* - 04/01/2012 09:50:21 PM 521 Views
Den var ny för mig. - 06/01/2012 12:12:07 AM 684 Views
yeah that it so funny - 04/01/2012 03:05:59 PM 932 Views
he kind of brought it on himself by being so decidedly anti-gay that it pissed lots of people off - 04/01/2012 04:36:39 PM 974 Views
maybe the gays brought all the gay bashing on themselves - 05/01/2012 03:18:15 PM 1173 Views
Civility is a social contract - 05/01/2012 04:39:46 PM 941 Views
so now that the gays have broken that contract they are fair game? - 05/01/2012 06:37:52 PM 691 Views
Question have you read the Santorum interview? *NM* - 05/01/2012 06:50:24 PM 486 Views
no I try to avoid him - 06/01/2012 06:17:45 PM 795 Views
That's too harsh. - 06/01/2012 07:29:05 PM 908 Views
While language changes with time - 07/01/2012 04:13:28 AM 929 Views
I have to agree. Reluctantly. - 04/01/2012 06:19:13 PM 978 Views
Actually, your response was expected - 04/01/2012 10:08:33 PM 1028 Views
don't forget.... - 05/01/2012 02:27:49 AM 923 Views
do you still pretend that it isn't political? - 05/01/2012 03:14:25 PM 868 Views
I'm sorry - 05/01/2012 03:52:57 PM 972 Views
funny how it always woks out that way - 05/01/2012 06:44:55 PM 773 Views
Believe what you will, but my wok skills are poor - 05/01/2012 07:32:17 PM 936 Views
You should ask one of the gays to help you. I hear the gays are good at cooking. *NM* - 06/01/2012 01:54:21 AM 613 Views
Queer stove eye for the straight guy? - 06/01/2012 09:05:48 PM 844 Views
try using more heat and better oil *NM* - 06/01/2012 06:18:19 PM 501 Views
Corn oil? - 06/01/2012 09:05:09 PM 794 Views
Peanut *NM* - 06/01/2012 11:27:49 PM 531 Views
Santorum is a man who believes you must compare homosexual love to bestiality and pedophilia - 05/01/2012 04:42:26 AM 944 Views
and Savage is a Man who believes that vulgar personal attacks - 05/01/2012 03:12:42 PM 1091 Views
Why should a person tolerate intolerance? (Serious question.) *NM* - 05/01/2012 08:46:05 PM 645 Views
The question boils down to why should someone tolerate what they think is wrong. - 05/01/2012 10:53:40 PM 905 Views
and when santorum tells you that your lifestyle is worse than pedophilia and bestiality? - 06/01/2012 03:34:52 AM 860 Views
To be fair... - 06/01/2012 05:32:31 AM 1004 Views
You are correct - 06/01/2012 01:21:18 PM 1058 Views
Then it seems like it's a problem of definitions more than anything else. - 06/01/2012 09:48:49 PM 964 Views
Following the logic to its bitter end. Why do I do this to myself??? - 06/01/2012 10:14:01 PM 1029 Views
Santourm is - 07/01/2012 04:24:45 AM 980 Views
I'm fairly sure your theory is wrong. - 06/01/2012 10:42:14 PM 1030 Views
so Obama offended me by attending a racist America hating church - 06/01/2012 05:32:14 PM 882 Views
Those are really not equivalent. - 06/01/2012 04:18:37 PM 822 Views
Re: Those are really not equivalent. - 06/01/2012 10:27:11 PM 952 Views
This. - 07/01/2012 01:35:43 PM 844 Views
I agree, lets shoot anyone who doesn't think like you *NM* - 06/01/2012 05:17:41 PM 501 Views
I'm really conflicted about the whole Santorum thing. - 06/01/2012 07:42:02 PM 905 Views
I find myself agreeing with you recently - 06/01/2012 08:38:37 PM 939 Views
dude, gross! *NM* - 04/01/2012 04:39:34 PM 509 Views
Dear Iowa, - 04/01/2012 08:04:09 PM 943 Views
So at this point, most of the candidates had a moment at the top. Kind of awesome. - 05/01/2012 11:22:50 PM 932 Views
that is why Perry is staying in the race - 06/01/2012 06:20:54 PM 899 Views
It would be the joke of the year if Huntsman got a turn. - 06/01/2012 10:59:36 PM 851 Views
Is he a bigger long shot than Santorum, though? Gingrich? Bachman? CAIN!? - 07/01/2012 01:34:47 AM 950 Views
Yes, for the reason you state. - 07/01/2012 03:04:39 PM 909 Views
I really do not agree. - 09/01/2012 08:51:46 PM 943 Views
he is moving up in New Hampshire - 10/01/2012 05:16:14 PM 1036 Views
More like everyone has had a moment running second to Romney. - 07/01/2012 01:59:25 PM 841 Views
It's not a foregone conclusion yet. - 07/01/2012 04:03:51 PM 952 Views
give up the hope it is nothing more than a pipe dream - 09/01/2012 02:57:03 PM 963 Views
All of the republican candidates are pipe dreams. - 09/01/2012 08:56:57 PM 763 Views
I find Ron Paul absolutely infuriating. - 09/01/2012 10:44:09 PM 1026 Views
Weed is kinda important - 10/01/2012 03:31:00 PM 804 Views
So is women's health. About 50% of US. *NM* - 13/01/2012 01:46:15 AM 550 Views
Um... - 10/01/2012 03:54:53 PM 859 Views
is an ass - 10/01/2012 05:10:09 PM 994 Views
I would like to see that enforced. - 10/01/2012 05:39:22 PM 1338 Views
So segregation when done by private businesses is ok? - 11/01/2012 02:20:32 PM 1039 Views
Define "OK." - 11/01/2012 08:29:09 PM 918 Views
Paul is an equal opportunity infuriator, to borrow Vivien's word. - 09/01/2012 10:56:57 PM 923 Views
I agree with you completely. - 10/01/2012 12:06:19 PM 945 Views
while I, of course, disagree with your conclusion. - 10/01/2012 02:21:46 PM 1376 Views
Re: while I, of course, disagree with your conclusion. - 10/01/2012 07:38:39 PM 938 Views
Ron Paul's biggest problem is isn't a republican - 10/01/2012 04:18:16 PM 945 Views
The original santorum 2003 interview for those who want to know - 07/01/2012 05:32:00 AM 1144 Views
And here is the 2002 op ed where he blamed liberalism causing the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal - 07/01/2012 05:36:39 AM 952 Views

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