Sarah Palin, Rick Santorum debate JFK

President John F. Kennedy’s views on the separation of church and state are the target of fresh criticism from Sarah Palin and other prominent conservatives.

In her second book, America by Heart, Palin called Kennedy’s Houston speech on how his Catholic faith shaped his policy views "defensive … in tone and content."

Palin faults Kennedy for not "telling the country how his faith had enriched him," according to Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who noted the passage in an op-ed in The Washington Post. 

Kennedy’s September 1960 speech contained the famous lines, "Contrary to common newspaper usage, I am not the Catholic candidate for president. I am the Democratic Party's candidate for president who happens also to be a Catholic." 

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) has also taken aim at Kennedy’s views on religion and politics. He was scheduled to be in Boston on Saturday for a speech rebutting Kennedy's call for "the separation of church and state [to be] absolute."

Santorum and Palin are both considered contenders for the GOP's 2012 presidential nomination. Their remarks may help endear them to religious conservatives, a strong Republican voting bloc.