Santorum: faith 'integral' to America

TALLAHASSEE - Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum brought his message of family and faith to Tallahassee Thursday.

Santorum spoke at a Christian Family Coalition breakfast and said America has become divided, and struggled with more economic problems because society has gotten away from those values.

Santorum said our nation was founded on faith. But now he believes faith is marginalized by politicians, courts and in public and the family institution is deteriorating.

He said its time to revitalize the institutions of faith and family to build a healthy America.

"We will never have a strong economy in the future, we will never have limited government, we will continue to be less free unless we revitalize the institutions of faith and family in America," Santorum.

Santorum said America is divided because there are no leaders to "remind us who we are and where we came from."

"It is very chilling to see in our society today faith being continually marginalized in schools, in the public square, by politicians, by courts. Why? Because the less we recognize where your rights come from, the less we recognize where your rights come from, the less we recognize faith as an integral part of America, the more power man has over you," he said.

A new poll shows Santorum trails Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney by more than 20 points in Florida. The state's presidential primary is next Tuesday.