I have oft reflected on the constitutionality of swearing in, or taking the oath of office, using a Bible. The reflections began around July or August of 2018, when I understood there was a contemplation not exclusively my own, about such matters. I have seen photographs since of Presidential inaugurations where not only was the traditional Bible of prior Presidential inaugurations used, but also the family Bible in correlation with the official Bible used by prior Presidents upon their swearing in.

 

Among the constitutional considerations is the separation of church and state, but not merely from the position of whether one’s spiritual preferences have legal standing under the constitution as a testament to their capacities or competencies to serve in office, but also the consideration of the encroachment it may present upon their faith, and hence their conscience. It is considered as sin under the systems of Christendom and Judaism – so far as I understand – to bear false witness. It is also a sin to worship another as g-d. While service in public office may not constitute a legal form of worship, there is the very real consideration of “loyalty” and the commitment to uphold the constitution while also attending with honesty and integrity to one’s faith convictions. 

 

This also takes into account the capacities of individuals who are secular to serve in office without having to provide false testimony as to their intentions to uphold the constitution. That should be understood as also attesting to their capacities to serve as a representative of the People without prejudicing their faith preferences over their constitutional duties. As well, there is the matter pertaining to the text, – the specific Bible of concern – and an understanding that the years of debate on the interpretation of Biblical texts, including in consideration of the language into which it has been translated, has provided a ripe arena in which scholars and neophytes alike consider their own relationship to faith.

 

It may or may not be akin to how one interprets the constitution, however, the oath of office is to uphold the constitution – not worship a specific understanding of g-d in a specific manner. This distinction is necessary to not only uphold, but to protect. I could not myself agree to swear in on a Bible whose text I did not agree to make the authority for my worship, but neither could I agree to swear in on a Bible at all. I believe the right to worship should be protected by the state, but that the state should not be enabled in attempting to define it in order to assert a right to an obligation or to a duty.

 

This necessarily speaks to considerations otherwise of one’s faith preference before the law, including in manners that define sanctuary or that define the relationship of the specific church or place of worship before the law. For years, the United States has permitted legislation that allows for the prosecution of crimes that interceded via places of worship, but has not applied it without what I believe to be a just condemnation of the arbitrariness and lack of consistency in the application of such legislation. This has both domestic and international policy implications. Those implications must be considered in accordance with the constitutional protections that people of faith are guaranteed under the constitution. This also includes the considerations of the constitutional implications of asserting one’s rights in manners that may interfere with the rights guaranteed to another. This is not without precedent in the history of all three branches of government and as such I believe it is an essential constitutional question that must be addressed before there can be a legitimate effort to question the integrity of one who would raise it prior to conceding to perform a ceremony in a manner that can not be supported constitutionally.

 

10:30 am CST

Jan. 24, 2023

Charity Colleen Crouse 

 

2 minutes to proofread

 

10:41 am CST

Jan. 24, 2023

Charity Colleen Crouse

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Re-posted as of June 9, 2023

Charity Colleen Crouse, President

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[? - 4:35 pm CST on Sept. 10, 2023

/s/: Charity Colleen Crouse]

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