Sir, – With reference to Brian Whiteside’s article “Want to hold high office? You have to swear an oath to God regardless of what you believe” (Rite & Reason, May 22nd), has he considered the possibility that the taking of an oath can be interpreted as a symbolic act invoking diligent commitment to high office, rather than the more literal interpretation? One may note that Éamon de Valera, in taking a certain oath in 1927, used the term “empty formula”. – Yours, etc,
EDMOND CANNON,
Stepaside,
Co Dublin.