Regarding U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode's insistence that congressional oaths of office be sworn upon the Bible, Daniel Aaron Weir points out that the Bible itself seems to forbid this ("Scripturally unsound," Jan. 24). It is also noteworthy that the Constitution rejects any such test of faith.
Article VI states that "The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
Thus it would seem that Goode's recent criticism of Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., who swore his oath of office upon the Koran, runs afoul of law and scripture alike.
Alec Solotorovsky
Law II
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