In recent weeks, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has surged as Republican voters continue to flirt and court presidential alternatives to Mitt Romney.

But, given Santorum’s penchant for stirring up bigotry, especially, through religious zealotry, can his noxious message gain traction in mainstream America?

Currently, the “culture war” issue has become a hot theme of discussion. Strategically, Mr. Santorum has positioned himself as a leading crusader in this debate—most likely so he can garner support from so-called religious-right conservatives. This is occurring behind the backdrop of Republican spearheaded legislative initiatives regarding the toxic topic of abortion and contraception that are popping-up around the country.

Last Sunday, Mr. Santorum said he “almost threw up” while reading President John F. Kennedy’s September 12, 1960 speech, where he complained of the soon-to-be president’s position on the separation of church and state. Speaking a few days before the Michigan and Arizona primaries Mr. Santorum vehemently stated: “I don’t believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute. 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.”

The essential question here is: was President Kennedy’s opinion really contrary to the spirit of the First Amendment of the Constitution regarding religion?

First, here is what the First Amendment says about religion: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

And here is a relevant excerpt of what Mr. Kennedy—who was then still a senator—said in his address to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association: “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute…I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish--where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source--where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials--and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all… Finally, I believe in an America where religious intolerance will someday end--where all men and all churches are treated as equal… I believe in a President whose religious views are his own private affair, neither imposed by him upon the nation or imposed by the nation upon him as a condition to holding that office.”

Now, the first thing here is this: the wording, in the Constitution, opens itself up to argument—by charlatans like Santorum—because of the opaque language used. Some may well ask the meaning of not “respecting an establishment of religion?” Yet, anyone who understands the history of America’s beginnings would know that the Framers most likely didn’t want America to be plagued by religious division and zealotry. Didn’t this cause many Europeans to immigrate to America and factor into the war of independence? Does Mr. Santorum know this history?

What is it about President Kennedy’s speech that nauseates Mr. Santorum? Could it be the fact that President Kennedy’s statements quite clearly—and correctly—criticizes the notion that a president’s religion should be of any serious concern to their ability to rule? For, this very idea has been at the heart of many attacks against President Obama.