PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer
By Carrie Budoff
Inquirer Staff Writer
Sen. Rick Santorum's words are giving him trouble. Again.
This time, the reemergence of three-year-old comments linking Boston liberalism with the Roman Catholic Church sexual abuse scandals has Beantown, victim advocates, and Democrats in Congress boiling.
"Priests, like all of us, are affected by culture. When the culture is sick, every element in it becomes infected," Santorum (R., Pa.), the No. 3 Senate leader, wrote for Catholic Online in July 2002. "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 column, recently picked up by newspaper columnists and circulated on the Internet, prompted Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D., Mass.) to demand an apology yesterday from the two-term senator.
"Outrageous and offensive comments," Kennedy boomed from the Senate floor. "Boston-bashing might be in vogue with some Republicans, but Rick Santorum's statements are beyond the pale."
Santorum wouldn't budge. As he has done other times he has upset the political left, Santorum flicked aside the criticism yesterday.