catholicPittsburgh.org

Mary A. Traupman

Attorney at Law

Three Gateway Center

401 Liberty Avenue Suite 1460

Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1004

To:    All interested parties

From:    Mary Traupman, CDP

Date:    May 8, 2006

Re:     “The Politics of Reaction,” by E.J. Dionne (P-G 5-5-06)

This op-ed, subtitled “Rick Santorum wants to be an un-Republican” contains the quote: “if you want me to be honest, I’m a Catholic.” He added: “How
many times did the nuns beat into your brains: the poor, the poor, the
poor, the poor?”

I encourage all to call or write or email or fax the office of Senator Santorum and express outrage at his insulting characterization of women religious (“beat?”) and demand that he apologize for his insensitivity. This is the Rick Santorum who, in January, 2005, at St. Paul Seminary stated, “Catholic schools are not Catholic.” The same Rick Santorum who publicly criticized the work of Catholic Charities. His latest remark is an affront to all women religious, to all Catholics, to all decent people.

Washington, D.C. Office:

511 Dirksen Senate Office Building,

Washington, DC 20510

Tel: 202-224-6324

Pittsburgh Office:

Counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Westmoreland, Washington

100 West Station Square Drive, Landmarks Building, Suite 250

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Tel: 412-562-0533

Fax: 412-562-4313

Senator Santorum's web site

In 1985, Donald Regan, then Treasury Secretary in the Reagan administration, stated: “My heart cannot bleed for many hospitals hurt by limits on Medicare payments, even those run by Roman Catholic nuns. Their hearts are big, but their heads aren’t screwed on tight…”

The White House was inundated with phone calls, letters, faxes and telegrams demanding that Mr. Regan apologize. He did.

The Santorum remark is in the same category as the Regan remark. Senator Santorum should publicly apologize.