Rick Santorum Thinks The Separation of Church and State Is Nauseating

On the campaign trail today, Santorum emphasized his feelings about secularism -- that he finds it barf-worthy, according to The Associated Press (via Washington Post.)

"I'm for separation of church and state: The state has no business telling the church what do to," he told some 300 Michigan business leaders.

These comments come just a day after Santorum said that he "almost threw up" when he read J.F.K.'s famous speech on the topic, according to the AP.

In that address, Kennedy had said: "I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute."

"I don't believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute," Santorum told reporters Sunday, saying that the First Amendment provision "has been turned on its head."

"The idea that the church can have no influence or no involvement in the operation of the state is absolutely antithetical to the objectives and vision of our country."

Oy.

"Freedom to worship is not just what you do in the sanctuary, it's how you practice your faith outside of the sanctuary," he said. "All the reporters in the back will go, 'Oh, there's Santorum talking about social issues,'..."No, I'm talking about freedom! This is an election about freedom."

It doesn't seem like Americans should be "free" to get told what to do by religious right-wingers who happen to hold office -- which seems to be Santorum's going definition of freedom.

So it's probably appropriate to take the liberty of bringing up the establishment clause.

FYI, Rick: America's forefathers not only wanted to protect churches and worshipers (and non-believers, too!) from the government -- that whole free exercise thing.

They didn't want the state to support religion -- which would suggest that making politics more religious doesn't really jibe with our country's ideological foundation. Like, at all.

In case you need a refresher, Rick, here's the full text of that amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Might Runnin' Scared humbly suggest learning about this Constitution stuff before running for president?

Follow Victoria Bekiempis @vicbekiempis.