When Santorum Talks About Church and State Re "Santorum Makes Case for Religion in Public Sphere" (front page, Feb. 27): I hope that Rick Santorum soon recovers from his visceral negative reaction to the wisdom in John F. Kennedy's 1960 speech calling for the rigid separation of church and state. Perhaps then Mr. Santorum will recognize the proper role of religion in public policy: one's faith may properly inform an official's opinion, but an elected leader must not exploit the power of a public office to make that faith into the law for everyone. As a member of the clergy well experienced in interreligious relations, I regularly see how different faiths have different teachings on a wide spectrum of issues, including the nature of God, the interpretation of Scripture and so many other matters. We are all best served in a nation that continues to allow us freedom of belief and practice in our hearts, homes and houses of worship and at the same time guarantees the religious neutrality of public institutions. And I pray that the winner of the 2012 presidential election agrees with me. The writer directs Concerned Clergy for Choice and is the author of "All Politics Is Religious: Speaking Faith to Policy Makers, the Media and in the Community."