ILLINOIS
Chicago Tribune
By Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune reporter
March 18, 2012
The issue of religious freedom, raised by all four Republican candidates but identified most strongly with Rick Santorum, finds an interested audience as the contest reaches Illinois. …
And Santorum’s conservative Catholic positions have not sat well with Catholics who are less traditional. Studies show that the vast majority of Catholic women have used birth control, and Santorum’s stance against contraceptives has alienated some Catholic women.
He also faced criticism in 2003 when he delivered the keynote address at a Youth and Family Encounter in Chicago sponsored by Legions of Christ, a conservative Catholic order of priests. The group was founded by the Rev. Marcial Maciel, who at the time of the Chicago rally faced sexual abuse allegations. Maciel died in 2008.
“Santorum is a Catholic who is very aligned with church teachings and positions on issues. Unfortunately, I’m not sure the average Catholic is these days or they’re indifferent about a lot of things” said Jim Fair, a spokesman for the Legion of Christ who helped organize the rally that year.
As a religious organization, Legionnaires don’t endorse candidates. But Fair is not surprised that many Catholic voters don’t support the Catholic candidate.
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