Reading Literature and Its Affects On the Actual Writing of Literature?

I have read several different opinions pertaining to this particular subject and find myself unsatisfied. At times, people are of the opinion that writers, whatever level or stage they are at in their career, do not usually read in their spare time as it taints one's own unique writing process. Others are of the opinion that writers should read as much as possible. Which do you believe to be the case? Or, is there is no connection between reading and writing in that it neither enhances nor dispels the creative writing process?