WASHINGTON -- On Tuesday, Santorum released the following statement which addressed the recently published Associated Press story.

The opening paragraph of the statement referred to the AP story as "misleading."

It further stated:

Sen. Santorum recently sat down for an interview with the Associated Press with an understanding that a profile piece would bepublished ragarding his eight-year tenure int eh Senate. As part of the interview, the senator discussed a case that is currently being considered by the Supreme Court, Lawrence v. Texas.

"When discussing the pending Supreme Court Case Lawrence v. Texas, my comments were specific to the right to privacy and the broader implications of a ruling on other state privacy laws.

"In the interview, I expressed the same concern as many constitutional scholars and discussed arguments put forward by the State of Texas, as well as Supreme Court justices. If such a law restricting personal conduct is held unconstitutional, so could other existing state laws.

"Again, my discussion with the Associated Press was about the Supreme Court privacy case, the consitutrional right to privacy in general and in context of the impact on the family. I am a firm believer that all are equal under the Constitution. My comments should not be misconstrued in any was as a statement on individual lifestyles."