I commend Sen. Rick Santorum for urging “the faithful to take advantage of the spiritual direction of priests and other members of the church” during his speech that was part of the “Faithful Citizenship” series (Pittsburgh Catholic, Jan. 21).

But I wonder if the senator follows his own good advice. He has parted ways with spiritual leaders, Pope John Paul II and U.S. Catholic officials on multiple issues, including major ones like capital punishment and the rush to war with Iraq. Other important issues that have found him opposite church officials in recent years include: access to health coverage for all Americans, tax cuts for the highest income bracket during a time of limited government resources, and increasing the minimum wage, which has been $5.15 per hour since 1997 (he has been inconsistent on the issue).