We all know that this country was founded on a Judeo-Christian ethic but the Judeo-Christian ethic was a Protestant Judeo-Christian ethic, sure the Catholics had some influence, but this was a Protestant country and the Protestant ethic, mainstream, mainline Protestantism. And of course we look at the shape of mainline Protestantism in this country and it is a shambles. It is gone from the world of Christianity as I see it. So they attacked mainline Protestantism, they attacked the Church, and what better way to go after smart people who also believe they're pious — to use both vanity and pride to go after the Church.

2008 campaign speech at Ave Maria University, quoted in Alvarez, Alex (21 February 2012), "Media Shifts Attention To Rick Santorum's 2008 Speech About Satan's Influence On U.S.", Mediaite, retrieved on 2012-02-21