Donald Trump Adds Antigay Rick Santorum to Religious Council

The Republican presidential nominee has added his former rival as an advisor to his campaign.

Donald Trump has hired Rick Santorum. the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, as an adviser for his Catholic Advisory Council.

Santorum, who ended his campaign for president in February, is one of 35 people slated for the council. In a press release announcing the council, Trump included a list of "issues of importance to Catholics." The topics on the list include religious liberty, pro-life issues, judicial nominations, education, health care, jobs and taxation, and safety and security.

In June, Santorum signed an antigay "pledge in solidarity to defend marriage," that claims marriage should only exist "between one man and one woman." Santorum has also said he would reinstate the ban on 'don't ask don't tell.' The former senator has also defended "religious liberty" in the past, and it is something that Trump comments on in his list of "issues of importance to Catholics."

On the topic of religious liberty, Trump said, "Religious liberty is enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution. It is our first liberty and provides the most important protection in that it protects our right of conscience. Activist judges and executive orders issued by Presidents who have no regard for the Constitution have put these protections in jeopardy. If I am elected president and Congress passes the First Amendment Defense Act, I will sign it to protect the deeply held religious beliefs of Catholics and the beliefs of Americans of all faiths. The Little Sisters of the Poor, or any religious order for that matter, will always have their religious liberty protected on my watch and will not have to face bullying from the government because of their religious beliefs."

In June, Trump announced the launch of his Evangelical Executive Advisory Board. Michele Bachmann, one of the most outspoken opponents of marriage equality, is on the evangelical advisory board.

Friday, Trump announced an updated list of his Supreme Court nominee picks. Several of Trump's choices on the list have an anti-LGBT track record.