Ellison wants to use Quran, not Bible, for swearing-in ceremony

Keith Ellison is taking heat for his choice of holy books when it comes time to be sworn into office. The Constitution, however, makes no reference to books in the section concerned with oaths.

It's true placing the hand on the Bible is a time honored tradition in the United States. Even Jesse Ventura, who criticized organized religion, swore on a Bible as he took the oath of office as Minnesota governor in 1999.

But fast forward seven years to Keith Ellison's victory in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. He made national news by becoming the first Muslim ever elected to Congress.

And he said weeks ago that he'll use his religion's holy book, the Qu'ran, when he takes his oath. Ellison was in Massachusetts Friday, but his friend, Represenative Ron Latz of St. Louis Park called the decision logical.

"What was he to do? Would you have him take an oath on a religious book that?s not part of his faith? It wouldn't make sense," Latz said.

Latz, himself headed for the Minnesota Senate in 2007, served with Ellison in the state house.

"Using the Qu'ran, really to me, is an affirmation of the religious freedom and diversity that the constitution stands for."

Conservative radio commentator Dennis Prager stoked the flames this week by writing that "America, not Keith Ellison, decides what book a Congressman takes his oath on."

Prager challenged Ellison to either take his oath using the Bible or "not serve" in Congress. He said swearing on the Qu'ran, "undermines American civilization."

The American Family Association issued an electronic action alert to its members across the nation, calling attention to Prager's article. The organization also urged its followers to write their members of Congress, demanding that a bill be passed naming the Bible the only book that can be used in oaths.

Ellison's transition team has been bombarded with e-mail messages, most of them hateful in tone, attacking Islam, the Qu'ran and especially Ellison. The Ellison staff forwarded some of them to KARE 11 News.

"You worthless human being," began one. It continued by saying, "Your actions will play well with your terrorist buddies."

Another declared, "the devil is ruling."

"Shame on you!" said one writer, who added, "I think you want to serve the Muslim call to destroy our nation."

"You are using political correctness to push down the heritage of America," said one contributor.

"This country was not created on religion but on Christianity."

Most Americans are familiar with the concept of separation of church and state, contained the First Amendment of the Constitution.

It reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

The section of the Constitution concerning oaths further specifies members of Congress can't be asked to jump through religious hoops to get into the club.

Article 6 of the Constitution spells out, "but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."

Article 6 mentions nothing about Bibles or holy books, only that an oath must be taken.

"The Senators and Representatives... shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution."

As Hamline University's David Schultz explained, "So if the government passed a law that said you had to swear on a stack of Bibles or something like that, that would clearly be a violation of two clauses of the Constitution."

Schultz points out the official oath is taken as a group in the U.S. House chamber, and involves no holy books.

"There?s an official swearing in that doesn?t involve a Bible, it involves taking an oath instead."

The Bible has been traditionally used in private oath ceremonies conducted by the Speaker of the House. Many members of Congress post those photos on their websites, but those swearing-in events are ceremonial rather than official.

Schultz says the Bible has a cultural place because it represents the concept of taking an oath with God as a witness.

"A lot of people who were predominantly Christian were using that as reaffirmation of their faith or of their personal commitment to say, 'look at this, in the eyes of God I would not lie, or be derelict in my duty'."

Schultz sees parallels to John F. Kennedy's inauguration in 1961, when the first Catholic President became the first to take an oath on a Catholic Bible.

"And people thought oh my God he?s going to take his oath, and he?s going to take his bidding from the Vatican. Times have changed."

He notes fear of Catholics in 1961 has been replaced in 2006 by fear of Islam for some, especially in the wake of 9-11.

Ellison's defenders say it's the oath that matters most, and not the book involved in the ceremony.

"You?re making a commitment to uphold the constitution and the laws of the United States. That?s the important thing," said Latz.

"And I have no doubt about Keith?s commitment to do that."

By John Croman, KARE 11 News

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