For many years, when it came to abortion and birth control, Republicans' cheerfully trotted out the Pope and Catholic teachings to justify draconian anti-choice laws against women. But there's a new
sheriff Pope in town, and with his embrace of climate change, evolution, relations with Cuba, not to mention voicing concern about the poor, Pope Francis is making it a wee bit awkward for Catholic Republicans, and they seem to be
rethinking that whole
"infallible" bit:
Francis may be popular with the general public, but key Republican primary constituencies — hawks, climate-change skeptics and religious conservatives, including some Catholics, are wary of the pope’s progressivism. Some, pronouncing themselves "Republicans first and Catholics second ..."
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, meanwhile, have worked to draw a distinction between the pope’s authoritative declarations of Catholic belief, which they would feel compelled to follow, and his mere opinions, which they don’t consider binding. [...]
"As a Catholic, you always read what the pope has to say, but this would not have to do with faith and morals," Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) said of Francis’ looming push on climate change.
He’s not a political figure,” Rubio said ... Santorum has been even blunter, remarking in January, "It’s sometimes very difficult to listen to the pope and some of the things he says off the cuff."
Comedy. (And by the way, do papal robes have cuffs?)