Ancient Roman religion was all about the State.
The Roman Senate never did anything without performing rituals involving sacrifice and carefully-worded prayers and invocations.
The prayers and invocations to the gods had to be spoken just exactly right. Mispronounce, omit, or transpose a single word and the whole ritual had to be done over.
Sound familiar?
At least President Obama’s advisers were satisfied to have the oath repeated behind closed doors.