To the Editor:

Re “Sessions’s Use of Bible Passage to Defend Immigration Policy Draws Fire” (nytimes.com, June 15):

I would like to propose a constitutional amendment that makes it illegal for politicians to quote from the Bible, the Torah, the Quran and all other sacred scriptures. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s recent use of scripture (about obeying the laws of government) to advance his own political agenda reflects how sacred words can be twisted and turned to fit that agenda.

Curious, too, is the politician’s ability to ignore other more directly relevant scripture. The Book of Deuteronomy, for example, tells us that God “loves the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. So you, too, must show love to foreigners.” The Gospel of Matthew quotes Christ as saying, “I was a stranger, and you took me in.”

Conveniently, Mr. Sessions overlooks these and many other passages. So I say make it illegal for politicians to quote scripture for, as Shakespeare said, “The Devil can cite scripture for his purpose.”

RICHARD B. PATTERSON, EL PASO