Rick Santorum has said watching the 1960 speech John F. Kennedy gave to Houston Baptist ministers has left him wanting to vomit, ABC News is reporting. “To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes you throw up,” the GOP presidential hopeful said.

Santorum added “What kind of country do we live that says only people of non-faith can come into the public square and make their case?” He added that the comment “should make every American who is seen from the president, someone who is now trying to tell people of faith that you will do what the government says, we are going to impose our values on you.” The presidential candidate also said “we’re going to impose our values from government on people of faith, which of course is the next logical step when people of faith, at least according to John Kennedy, have no role in the public square.”

Santorum also said he doesn’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,” he added. He pointed to the First Amendment, which allows free exercise of religion, but suggested Kennedy alluded that he wouldn’t consult with people of faith.

Written by: Karen Benardello