The intent of JFK’s speech was to defuse Baptist hatred of the Catholic Church, at least to a certain extend. That coupled with the nomination of Johnson and 80% vote given him by Catholics gave him his narrow victory. Separation of Church and State can be absolute only in that no office holder can be compelled to profess a certain faith. Hence he can swear to or merely affirm his duty to the Constitution. Jefferson in talking about the matter was speaking in Baptist terms of separation, and the “wall” the kind of hedge that Baptist congregations wanted to put between the individual conscience and the dogs of government. To put it another way, it actually broke down the walls that kept Baptists and Catholics and Jews from participating in national political life, as was the case in Great Britain.
That's a DIRECT QUOTE from Santorum. If it's proven factual it's damning.
Santorum is not talking about religious people OR candidates expressing themselves in the public square, or about equal access to the public square.
Santorum is directly and clearly advocating for "the Church" to have a role "in the operation of the state".
And if he thinks that is the original intent of the Constitution he is ignorant in addition to being dangerous to liberty and people.