Even Fox's Chris Wallace couldn't leave this one alone.

"On Sunday, Wallace noted that the pope actually had scientific training — while Santorum had none.

“If he’s not a scientist — and in fact, he does have a degree in chemistry — neither are you?” Wallace said. “The second point is that somewhere between 80 and 90 percent of the scientists that have studied this say that humans, human activity contributes to climate change.”

“So, I guess the question would be if he shouldn’t talk about it, should you?” the Fox News host added.

“Well, we have to make public policy with regard to the environmental policy,” Santorum insisted.

“But you’re not a scientist,” Wallace interrupted. “You said leave science to the scientists.”

“Politicians, whether we like it or not, people in government have to make decisions with respect to our policy that affect American workers,” Santorum remarked.

“And you don’t think the pope has a right to talk about this?” Wallace wondered.

“The pope can talk about whatever he wants to talk about,” Santorum opined. “I’m just saying, what should the pope use his moral authority for?”

“He would say he’s protecting the Earth?” Wallace observed. "

Man oh man, when Fox takes a republican on for being nutty,,,,,,Yikes!,
Rickie really walked into a buzz saw here. Let's ignore for a moment that he's engaging in a contest with a Pope whose popularity eclipses his own.

The major point is made by Ricky.
Science should be left to scientists.

Ok, I'll buy that.
The thing is,,,,
Few elected officials are scientists.
But, from time to time, they have to make public policy based upon science.
So,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Should not the politicians be guided by scientists?
And the consensus is that man made climate change is real.
So, get on board, Rickie!

I'm surprised Santorum would wade into this argument for a couple of reasons

1) The guy is Catholic. Part of being Catholic is giving a wade swath of deference to the Holy Father. 

2) Denying climate change is sort of one of those boxes you need to check off to even be a republican in the United States. Santorum isn't going to differentiate himself from other GOP POTUS candidates by spending a lot of time talking about it. His angle, so to speak, is talking to blue collar midwestern conservatives and evangelicals. If I'm Santorum and am going to get time on Sunday shows, I'd rather spend my time making that case. 

The bottom line is slip ups like this when you're a long shot candidate to begin with doesn't do anything to help your cause.

Well, Santorum got a well deserved pasting in the press - including Fox - today.
He is well on his way to becoming a punchline.

Funny, Rick's been wagging his tongue about climate change since before the 2012 election. If you care to google it, you can find Nonscientist Rick making the scientific assessment that man made climate change is an impossibility, junk science, a liberal plot, etc. Then when the Pope weighs in, Rick tries to shut him up with "Let's leave science to the Scientists". When have you ever done that, Rickie?

And, Come to think of it, Santorum isn't a theologian either, and it never stopped him from yacking about God and morality,,,,,,,,,,

Stick a fork in this guy.