Rick Santorum Attacks Decision to Leave Clergy Out of 9/11 Ceremony

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania has made the importance of religion in the public square one of the cornerstones of his bid for the Republican presidential nomination -- so it comes as no surprise that he ripped into New York City Mayor Michael Bloombergs decision not to include clergy in a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

"James Madison called our nation's vibrant public expression of faith the 'perfect remedy' and if there was ever a day in recent history that our nation needed such a remedy it was Sept.11th, 2001, said Santorum. It is disconcerting that Mayor Bloomberg decided to exclude clergy from the ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of this horrific attack. I urge Mayor Bloomberg to reconsider his unfortunate decision. It is important to allow clergy to attend and take part in the memorial intended to bind the wounds of a still healing nation."