GOP Candidates Decry Bigotry Against Christians on Campaign Trail

One day before the New Hampshire Primary a controversy that’s been raging in Illinois has now become the focus of the Republican presidential race. Two debates this weekend featured candidates complaining about Catholic charities being victimized by “anti-Christian bigotry.”

Several of the candidates, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum and in particular Newt Gingrich have talked about what they perceive as anti-Christian bigotry.

Chicago Cardinal Francis George has been in the center of controversy about the decision by the various Catholic charities organizations across the State of Illinois. After Illinois began issuing civil unions to gay couples, the Cardinal and other bishops decided they were going to disallow gay couples from adopting through Catholic charities because the bishop said it violates God’s law, and they therefore were stripped by the State of Illinois of their adoption contract.

The same thing has happened in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich about said he is outraged.

“That’s wrong. It violates Catholic faith, and in effect you have the government saying to a religious organization, unless you give up your religion we will not allow you to participate. I think that’s a violation of the First Amendment freedom of religion,” Gingrich said.

The issue has come up several times on the campaign trail in New Hampshire, but in Illinois, very few politicians of either party have spoken out about the issue.

In New Hampshire, Mitt Romney was the heavy favorite to win in Tuesday’s GOP primary.

Ron Paul has a big organization on the grounds in the state, and dozens of Ron Paul volunteers are visible on street corners, holding signs and going door to door. He also is very present on TV and has substantial sums of money.

John Huntsman has been rising, while several other candidates, perhaps including Gingrich, are focusing a lot of attention on South Carolina, which holds its primary Jan. 21. Perry was already in South Carolina Monday, and Gingrich is buying a lot of TV time in South Carolina attacking Romney.

SOURCE

FOX News