Santorum: The Pope Is ‘Difficult To Listen To’ Sometimes

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Ex-senator and onetime GOP presidential contender Rick Santorum has nearly reached his wits end after yet another statement by Pope Francis that has rankled conservatives.

In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt on Tuesday, Santorum appeared baffled by recent remarks by the Pope suggesting that faithful Catholics need not procreate “like rabbits.”

“Sometimes very difficult to listen to the Pope and some of the things he says off the cuff, and this is one of them,” Santorum, a professed Catholic, said.

“When he speaks as the leader of the Catholic Church, I’ll certainly pay attention,” the former senator continued. “But when he speaks in interviews, he’s giving his own opinions, which I certainly will listen to, but from my perspective, that doesn’t reflect the idea that people shouldn’t be fruitful and multiply, and that people should be open to life as something that is a core value of the faith and of the Catholic Church.”

Santorum went on to repeat several times, “I don’t know what the Pope was referring to here.”

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. I’m no expert, but I’d say the actual teachings of Christ.

  2. There is a difference between not liking what he is saying and not knowing what he is saying, Ricky. But you know that. So why make yourself sound stupid? You know exactly what he is saying. And if you need a little help I will translate because I speak Pope. Ricky, you and your so-called Christian conservatives better change your ways or you will find yourself in that warm, netherworldly place that you believe everyone who disagrees with you is going.

  3. I could be wrong, and this theory is probably pretty out there, but I think the Pope is usually talking about the Bible. Which for some reason seems to catch them off-guard.

  4. “Be fruitful and multiply” is an outdated concept. Humans have have multiplied past the point of usefulness for anyone and everyone, including themselves.

  5. I think Sweetdee is pointing out that, while most Popes talk about the Bible, Pope Francis is actually talking about the lessons and words of Christ, not the gunk that others wrote about that got thrown in to legitimize the political power of the Church.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

158 more replies

Participants

Avatar for doremus_jessup Avatar for lestatdelc Avatar for austin_dave Avatar for pluckyinky Avatar for mmurdoch Avatar for ncsteve Avatar for artemisia Avatar for clemmers Avatar for bluestatedon Avatar for chammy Avatar for teenlaqueefa Avatar for sandyh Avatar for sniffit Avatar for blueberrytomatosoup Avatar for hypocriticalgop Avatar for stephen_maturin Avatar for sarenarterius Avatar for richardinsanjo Avatar for 538liberal Avatar for serendipitoussomnambulist Avatar for dnl Avatar for marksieving Avatar for vladomatic Avatar for bpai

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: