Romney PLEASE! and NOT Santorum!

[JaneV2.0]

I think the notion of keeping church and state separate is designed mostly to keep the state out of the church, not necessarily the other way around. Any large group can influence policy simply because they have a lot of votes. In the case of the Catholic Church they have a LOT of votes.

As for hypocrisy, human nature might be the simplest and best explanation. The Pope is essentially a political appointee. The participants in a Papal Conclave wouldn't just draw a name out of a hat, the candidates need to have long and distinguished careers moving up the ladder. I can't imagine the process is entirely different than advancing to very high ranks in the US military. Anyway, the leaders of the Catholic Church are immensely powerful men. It makes sense that they would have similar characteristics to people drawn to very powerful positions in government or finance or other captains of industry.

But my point was that the Vatican sets Catholic policy, which I thought was to be adhered to by its followers--and Catholic politicians in this country--at least those on the right--seem to be pointedly flouting it, with a few exceptions like birth control, which even the Church has loosened up on somewhat. (See the position on condoms and AIDS. Pope Benedict in 2010)

And right-wing politicians calling themselves Christians are likewise flouting Jesus Christ's core teachings as laid out in Matthew by elevating the powerful and scorning the poor, IMO.

Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." NIV