Rick Santorum Forgets "Separation of Church and State"

Ham on Wry reminds readers of the "separation of church and state" concept on which this country has operated for well over two centuries. Historians and legal professionals credit that term to verbiage found in a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote on the first day of January, 1802, also published in a Massachusetts newspaper. He wrote the letter to the Danbury, Connecticut Baptist Association, which stated, "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."  Roger Williams, the founder of the Baptist Church in America, had referred to a "hedge or wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world". in 1644. Rick Santorum's platform for President of the United States includes ideas that cross that line.

In an interview with Bill O'Reilly January 4th, Santorum faced questions about his views on social issues. O'Reilly cited a statistic that 98% of Americans support the freedom to use contraceptives. Citing the Vatican's restrictions on the use of contraceptives, Santorum said he believes states have a right to ban them.and states that approved of them should have the right to legalize them as well. O’Reilly then responded, “It’s not a dogma; it’s a doctrine made by man." O’Reilly also questioned him about his anti-gay marriage views, saying most Americans would not be particularly keen on revoking marriage licenses to couples already wed.

Ham on Wry fervently supports Santorum's right to hold any views he deems correct; however, America faces a grave danger when a candidate expresses the need to legislate morality. I have published this several times in the last two months, but it can't be overstated. The Preamble to the United States Constitution states, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence [sic], promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Those words emphasize justice, domestic tranquility, common defense, general welfare, and the blessings of liberty (note the words capitalized in the original document of which defense is not one).

True liberty comes with both rights and responsibilities and allows for citizens to choose a religion or to eschew any form of religious affiliation. A candidate for President of the United States must operate from a paradigm that allows for that freedom. America has no established national religion because of "separation of church and state." Ham on Wry doubts that Santorum can make choices that conflict with the Catholic Church, as President John F. Kennedy, also a practicing Catholic, did.

Aside from his religious stance, I find his statement that US soldiers should return to Iraq reprehensible. This country has more than its share of casualties from that ill-advised war and certainly doesn't need to place any more of our young men and women in harm's way. Perhaps you should volunteer to spend a year in Iraq, Mr. Santorum.  First-hand experience can teach a person many lessons, and you have many to learn.