Rick Santorum says 'secular church' is being imposed on America

Tony Perkins (R), former U.S. senator Rick Santorum (Center) and Dennis E. Terry Sr. at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church in Greenwell Springs, Louisiana March 18, 2012. Photo: Reuters/Sean Gardner

Former Senator Rick Santorum says the current administration is threatening people's liberties by instigating a secular theocracy.

In an interview with the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins, Santorum accused the government of deliberately attacking those who do not accept the "secular orthodoxy" of the Obama administration.

"For the first time in the history of our country, the government is attacking people ... for not accepting the secular orthodoxy that this administration wants to put forward, criticising people for holding biblical truth and counselling them in a biblically coherent way," Santorum claimed.

He pointed to attacks on laws designed to protect employees' rights to observe their faith in the workplace.

"Those things which were unanimously passed are now being fought against," Santorum lamented.

Santorum referred to bills in Indiana and Arkansas that were passed and then amended in order to add an anti-discrimination clause to prevent discrimination against members of the LGBT community.

Both bills, referred to as Religious Freedom Restoration Acts or RFRAs, aimed to prevent the government from infringing upon a person's religious freedom by prohibiting lawsuits against anyone who conducted business according to their religious beliefs.

The RFRAs were amended by their respective state legislative bodies in response to criticism that the laws would be used by certain parties to discriminate against those people or groups that their religious beliefs did not agree with.

Santorum concluded his statement by warning that a "secular church" is being forced on the United States.

"We have now the secular church that is being imposed on this country and anybody that defects is subject to persecution and prosecution," he said.

Santorum warned that this secular church is "a very serious threat to liberty in America."

News
How modern science owes its existence to Christian theology
How modern science owes its existence to Christian theology

Some people think that you have to choose between science and religion, but that is not the case. This is the story …

US religious groups challenge new immigrant enforcement policies
US religious groups challenge new immigrant enforcement policies

A United States Federal Judge has granted an injunction that will prevent immigration agents from carrying out operations in places of worship after a group of religious organisations launched a lawsuit against the Trump administration over new enforcement policies.

Gyles Brandreth joins campaign to end avoidable sight loss
Gyles Brandreth joins campaign to end avoidable sight loss

Gyles Brandreth has thrown his support behind CBM UK’s campaign to end avoidable sight loss.

Church leaders call for 'rethink' of school closures in Ramadan
Church leaders call for 'rethink' of school closures in Ramadan

“We urge the governors of the affected states to reconsider this decision and explore alternative arrangements that respect the rights and freedoms of all citizens.”