Judge Rules in Indiana House Prayer Suit

Judge Rules in Indiana House Prayer Suit
Federal Judge Rules That Prayers Given in Indiana House May Not Favor One Religion
By DEANNA MARTIN Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS Nov 30, 2005 — A federal judge on Wednesday barred the Indiana House from opening its sessions with specifically Christian prayers, ruling that such prayers amount to "an official endorsement of the Christian religion."

Judge David Hamilton advised House Speaker Brian Bosma that invocations given in the Legislature should not use the name of Jesus Christ or Christian terms such as savior.

Of 53 opening prayers given in the House during the 2005 session, 41 were given by clergy identified with Christian churches and at least 29 mentioned Jesus Christ, according to court documents.
(snip)

"All are free to pray as they wish in their own houses of worship or in other settings," Hamilton wrote. "Those who wish to participate in a practice of official prayer must be willing to stay within constitutional bounds."

Bosma called the ruling an "intolerable decision" that threatened free speech. He said he has directed his lawyers to study ways to overturn the decision.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1360841

If the Indiana house really wants to open each session with "a prayer" why couldn't they choose something from a different religion each day, and maybe even have optional days when there were none to demonstrate support for those residents who have NO religion?

The selection could be chosen at random from a selection equivalent to the number of days the Indiana House was in session.

I think they do something similar to this in the US House. I know I've heard Rabbis, ministers and priests from many different churches when they open the daily House session in DC.

Two years there was enough for me to learn that... if you're not Christian (and you don't live in Bloomington), then there's probably something wrong with you...

I thought of that when I read this original post. Isn't Indiana a really Red State? How did they get a Judge to make this ruling????

Not sure where the judge was from, but I was pretty surprised to read this, too. My husband (originally from IN) and I pretty much both said "wow, there must be a lot of pissed off fundies in IN right now".

to the CHRISTIAN TALIBAN? Enforcers of morality for all unfortunate enough to come within their power. THEY WILL TELL YOU what's moral, what's right, what's official and what isn't, just like in Afghanistan and Iran and (soon) Irag!

My husband was trying to figure out his beliefs for a while last summer (Taoism/Buddhism), and would come home and tell me about 'discussions' he had at work. Wow. :crazy:

> The wording in this decision made me think of something. If the
> Indiana house really wants to open each session with "a prayer"
> why couldn't they choose something from a different religion
> each day, ...

They could, but they won't. The point of this sort of thing is
*ALWAYS* to have *CHRISTIAN* prayer, not any damn yahoo religion's
prayer. If they allowed the sort of rotating prayer arrangement
you're suggesting, the next thing they knew they'd be praying to
Wiccan gods and Hindu gods and, holy crap, that *ALLAH* guy
that our official enemies pray to!

That's why the choice always devolves down to Christian prayer/
no prayer.

Tesha

God sir.

It would be nice if once - just once - one of these nutcases would say ... "Well, the court has spoken. We have an obligation to respect the law. I suggest that we all think about our position and the possibility that the prayers, as they've been conducted, have been wrong."

Wouldn't it be refreshing to hear a lawmaker say that about the law?

They are even showing pictures of a hangmans noose to describe what they think should be done.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1531690/posts

Ah, but one day the christian and islamic religion will be but a faint memory. Unfortunatly it will be long after I am gone.