Donald Trump has once again embraced the anti-LGBT positions he’s repeatedly espoused over the course of his campaign by announcing the creation of a 35-member Catholic Advisory Council, which includes, U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, a two-time presidential candidate with a lengthy anti-LGBT record.

In addition to Santorum, who in a 2003 interview infamously compared homosexuality to “man on child, man on dog” behavior, his advisory council includes other individuals with anti-LGBT records.

“Religious liberty is enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution,” Trump said in a statement outlining “Issues of Importance to Catholics”. “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.”

“Judicial nominations, particularly appointments to the United States Supreme Court, are one of the most critical issues of this election,” Trump added. “I will appoint Justices to the Supreme Court like the late and beloved great Catholic thinker and jurist, Justice Antonin Scalia, who will strictly interpret the Constitution and not legislate from the bench.”

His statement reiterates the position he outlined earlier this year when he told ABC’s “This Week” host George Stephanopoulos that he would appoint conservative Supreme Court justices to the bench that would “stand against” same-sex marriage if he were elected president. Trump reiterated that he would look at Supreme Court judges when it comes to the issue of same-sex marriage and would prefer “that they stand against it.”

In January, Trump told “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace that he wasn’t happy with the way the Supreme Court handled the same-sex marriage case and believes the issue of same-sex marriage should have been addressed at the state level and not by the federal government.

“It has been ruled upon, it has been there, if I’m elected I would be very strong on putting certain judges on the bench that I think maybe could change things. They’ve got a long way to go. At some point, we have to get back down to business but there is no question about it and most people feel this way,” Trump told Wallace when asked about the issue.

The Blade adds:



“It seems to be a group hand-picked by the U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops — anti-LGBTQ, anti-women’s rights, for the expansion of religious exemptions,” Duddy-Burke said. “Among them are people well known for anti-LGBTQ statements and actions, including Rick Santorum, Marjorie Dannensfelser, and Austin Ruse. Overall, this seems to be a blatant attempt to court conservative Catholics, to shore up Trump’s anti-choice credentials, and to show himself as aligned with Catholic doctrine.”