Senator talks faith, politics in university visit

STEUBENVILLE - U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, urged students and faculty at Franciscan University of Steubenville on Monday to pray and, "get involved in the whole life movement."

The local College Republicans organization also urged students attending the Brownback lecture to register to vote in the November general election.

The one-time presidential candidate said the decision by Arizona Sen. John McCain to choose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, "was a huge selection because she is living the life we can admire. I wanted to see someone who walks the walk, and Sarah Palin does exactly that."

Brownback also said it is important for Franciscan University of Steubenville students to become more involved "in the political process as well as the whole life movement."

And Brownback told reporters he would not be interested in an administration post if John McCain wins the presidency.

"We have a Democratic governor in Kansas who would name my replacement if I stepped down to take a cabinet position in a McCain administration. I need to stay in the Senate," said Brownback.

Brownback, who made a run for president in the Republican primaries, compared the debate over abortion to the issues surrounding slavery in the United States in the 1800s.

"The argument back then was whether or not a slave was a person or a piece of property. We now see the same debate over whether or not the body of a person is alive or not. But the debate shouldn't end there. We are winning this debate. Life is sacred whether it is a child in the womb, a child in Darfur or someone in prison," said Brownback.

"I urge you to get involved in the whole life movement. I hope you consider prison work as well as the pro-life movement. We need to be concerned with all life," said Brownback.

According to Brownback, Catholic voters "could determine this election."

"I am leading the Catholics for McCain organization. And while I consider (Democratic vice presidential nominee) Joe Biden a friend and an intelligent man, I do not believe he will bring Catholics to the Democratic ticket. Biden is simply wrong on key life issues in this campaign," stated Brownback.

"John McCain has been pro-life for the past 24 years. I will keep pushing him on the stem cell research issue, but John McCain is very strong on the social justice issues. He is key for our times. The Russian bear is coming back. We are facing militant Islamics, and Iran is very problematic. We need a candidate who is very good on the national security issues," cited Brownback.

He called vice presidential nominee Palin "a shining example of someone who cares about life. She made the decision to have her baby even though the tests showed (the baby) would be a Down syndrome baby. The hospitals will say it is a good idea to abort the baby. The insurance companies would agree it is a good idea because of the medical costs involved in caring for the baby. Some 90 percent of kids like her son don't make it here. But the Palins have a Down syndrome baby who is the centerpiece of their family.

"We are also facing a range of life issues," Brownback told the students who filled the Tony and Nina Gentile Gallery located in the J.C. Williams Center.

"We are now dealing with end-of-life issues because of a growing euthanasia movement. We are not valuing the end of life. I know life is scared even when its difficult," said Brownback.

He also said same-sex marriages "are causing the number of heterosexual marriages to go down."

"And at the same time we are penalizing people who receive public assistance who get married. I am pushing to hold people harmless on public assistance if they get married. In fact, give people in that case a bonus if they do get married," Brownback proposed.

The Kansas Republican also urged the university students to consider going to Africa.

"Africa is constantly in play. If you go there your soul will be touched. I try to go to Africa at least once a year," said Brownback.

He related the story of meeting an African-American pastor who died while on a hospital operating table.

"The doctors were able to bring him back and I asked him what he saw while he was officially dead. He told me he could see the prayers his church members and friends were praying. He said God could feel those prayers. So I can tell you that your prayers are incredibly important in the heart of God," related Brownback.

"I plead with you to pray because I believe the best thing I can do to change our culture is for me to change my culture and for me to shine the light more and get more involved," concluded Brownback.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)