07002
January 2, 2007

At convening of U.S. Congress, both Bible and Quran to be used

by Chris Herlinger
Ecumenical News International

NEW YORK — The Bible and the Quran will share the spotlight with the usual menu of political debate and rancor when the U.S. Congress reconvenes on Jan. 4.
 
     The election of the first Muslim to the U.S. House of Representatives and his intention of incorporating the Quran during a private swearing-in ceremony on the first day of the House session triggered hostile reaction from one quarter. 
 
     The declaration by Democrat Keith Ellison, a Muslim elected to represent Minnesota, prompted Virgil Goode, a Republican from Virginia, to say the United States would need to adopt strict immigration policies “necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped.” 
 
     In a letter to his constituents before the end of 2006, Goode wrote: “When I raise my hand to take the oath on swearing-in day, I will have the Bible in my other hand. I do not subscribe to using the Quran in any way.”

     He added: “The Muslim representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Quran.”  
 
     Goode’s comments angered a number of U.S. Muslim and religious freedom advocacy groups, including one Jewish group. 
 
     Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations termed Goode’s statement “ignorant and divisive,” calling it “an affront to Muslims in his district and to Americans of all faiths who believe in our nation’s longstanding traditions of religious tolerance and diversity.” 
 
     David Friedman, an official of the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish organization, wrote to Goode and noted that no member of Congress is sworn in using a Bible or other book of scripture. The official swearing-in ceremony for house members, he noted, is performed in the chambers en masse without the use of a holy book.

     Members, however, often re-enact the swearing-in privately and use a book of holy scripture for that ceremony.  
 
     Friedman told Goode, what unifies Americans is a “value system built on religious freedom, respect for differences, and democratic pluralism.” 
 
     In a Dec. 21 with CNN television, Ellison — an African American born in Detroit — said he looked forward to meeting Goode. “He might want to know that Muslims — there are about 5 million in the country — are here to support and strengthen America,” said Ellison.