Alex Wagner took the unusual step of running to the defense of Pope Francis on her MSNBC program on Wednesday. Wagner blasted Rick Santorum for asserting that the Catholic Church was "probably...better off leaving science to the scientists," especially on the controversial issue of climate change. She pointed out that the Pope "has a master's degree in chemistry," and therefore, has more "cred" to speak on the climate issue than Santorum, who only has a political science degree. [video below]
Wagner also targeted the Republican presidential candidate for using science to defend his support for "an abortion ban with zero exceptions for rape and incest," as she put it:
ALEX WAGNER: According to Santorum's reasoning here, the Pope – who, by the way, has a master's degree in chemistry – is not credible because he doesn't have the right science cred. And yet, Mr. Santorum, who has a degree in political science, has no issue advocating for an abortion ban with zero exceptions for rape and incest – a position he explained by relying on science. 'Through both scientific reasoning and moral reasoning,' he wrote in a 2006 book, 'the answer was clear to me. Abortion was the taking of an innocent human life.'
For the record, political science is not a biological science. Perhaps, Mr. Santorum should work on his own science cred before taking on the Pope.
What the MSNBC host failed to realize is the fact that Pope Francis actually agrees with former Senator Santorum. In a November 2014 address to Catholic doctors from Italy, the Bishop of Rome addressed objections to the Church's position on abortion:
...We are living in a time of experimentation with life. But a bad experiment. Making children rather than accepting them as a gift, as I said. Playing with life. Be careful, because this is a sin against the Creator: against God the Creator, who created things this way.
When so many times in my life as a priest I have heard objections: "But tell me, why the Church is opposed to abortion, for example? Is it a religious problem?" No, no. It is not a religious problem. "Is it a philosophical problem?" No, it is not a philosophical problem. It's a scientific problem, because there is a human life there, and it is not lawful to take out a human life to solve a problem.
That same month, Wagner (who was raised Catholic) spun the reassignment of "hardline" Cardinal Raymond Burke, asserting that it was "a strong message to arch-conservatives in the Catholic Church – reform or be removed." Of course, it's understandable that the MSNBC personality would give a flawed analysis on the development, as her degree is not in Church history or theology – or even political science – but in art history and literature.
The full transcript of Alex Wagner's commentary from MSNBC's Now With Alex Wagner on Wednesday:
ALEX WAGNER: 2016 presidential candidate and avowed Catholic, Rick Santorum, had a message this week for Pope Francis. Just under two weeks ago, the pontiff called climate change a sin – reasoning that because the Earth is God's creation, it should be protected. The Pope will also deliver his first major letter to bishops this summer on the subject of climate change and the environment.
RICK SANTORUM (from WPHT radio's "The Dom Giordano Show"): The Church has gotten it wrong a few times on science, and I think that – you know, we probably are better off leaving science to the scientists. When we get involved with – with political and controversial scientific theories, then I think the Church is – is probably not as forceful and credible.
WAGNER: According to Santorum's reasoning here, the Pope – who, by the way, has a master's degree in chemistry – is not credible because he doesn't have the right science cred. And yet, Mr. Santorum, who has a degree in political science, has no issue advocating for an abortion ban with zero exceptions for rape and incest – a position he explained by relying on science. 'Through both scientific reasoning and moral reasoning,' he wrote in a 2006 book, 'the answer was clear to me. Abortion was the taking of an innocent human life.'
For the record, political science is not a biological science. Perhaps, Mr. Santorum should work on his own science cred before taking on the Pope.
