Senator Sam Brownback, who is a Republican candidate for president, called for the defense of marriage and innocent human life at the National Catholic Men’s Conference on Saturday.

 

Sen. Brownback, a Roman Catholic, attended the conference to talk about bringing his faith into public life.

 

In introducing the Kansas Republican, organizer Steve Wood criticized Catholic politicians who separate their faith lives from their public lives, reported The Associated Press.

 

“I don’t know about you, but this stuff by many Catholic politicians who say, ‘I’m personally opposed, but...’ But what?" Wood reportedly said. "You should have the integrity to be consistent in both the personal and public life.”

 

During his talk, Brownback urged married couples to stay together and to make their marriages work. He said marriage should remain between a man and a woman. Countries that have allowed same-sex marriages are engaging in bad social experiments, he added.

 

Brownback also said innocent life should be protected, even in cases of rape. "Rape is terrible. Rape is awful. Is it made any better by killing an innocent child? Does it solve the problem for the woman that’s been raped?" Brownback asked at the St. Joseph’s Covenant Keepers gathering.

 

"We need to protect innocent life. Period," he said, bringing the crowd of about 500 to its feet.