Atheist lawmaker's prayer sets off Arizona House dispute

[Zorro]

An atheist member of the Arizona House denied the chance to deliver the chamber's opening prayer by majority Republican leaders last month got the opportunity Thursday, only to see leaders rule his prayer didn't pass muster and call up a Christian pastor.

The opening prayer by Democrat Juan Mendez included a call to work to help the state and its residents flourish and to "honor the Constitution and the secular equality it brings." But he didn't pray to any deity, which infuriated some Republicans who are Christians.

Mendez said before the session that he had been invited to deliver the opening prayer by majority Republican leaders and that he didn't plan to invoke God.

After his prayer, House Majority Leader Steve Montenegro said Mendez's decision not to pray to God didn't meet House rules he issued earlier this year for the opening prayer. Speaker David Gowan then said "point of order well taken" and called on a Baptist minister on hand in an apparently planned response.

http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-lawmakers-prayer-sets-off-arizona-house-dispute-225757784.html

[haikugal]

1. How is this crap constitutional?

[Delphinus]

2. It's not.

And this pisses me off.

[unblock]

3. it's not but there's no real legal mechanism to stop it.

who could sue and get the courts to intervene, and how would they enforce it?

this sort of thing can only really be handled by the voters in arizona.

not the best source of protection for atheists....

[former9thward]

7. Congress opens with prayer every day it is in session.

And has ever since it was created.

[haikugal]

11. Do they prevent secular people from participating or Muslims etc.?

Enforced Christianity isn't democratic. Enforced prayer isn't either..we are a secular nation.

[former9thward]

14. Secular people do not give prayers at Congress.

The Chaplin is elected by Congress.

[haikugal]

15. I know..I just chafe at a secular country that focuses on God...of any variety.

Prayers have no business in government at any level.

[Orrex]

18. That is, Congress has effectively established a religion

Nice.

[Rex]

20. Evidently from the day it was created! Who knew!?

So YES we are a Christian government and always have been, as per the U.S. Constitution.

[Orrex]

21. An abomination since day one, then

[Iggo]

4. Their government has rules for praying correctly.

I say again: Their government has rules for praying correctly.

Un-fucking-believable.

[SCantiGOP]

5. First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law......

Oh, just forget it. Conservatives only love the Constitution when it suits their agenda.

[JimDandy]

6. Hopefully the FFRF will be all over this. n/t

[haikugal]

12. My donations at work....I hope they do too!

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Should have said "the Constitution, including the prohibition against an establishment of religion"

just to make the ensuing farce even more obvious.

[pokerfan]

9. What part of

do these assholes not understand?

[rockfordfile]

10. Republicans hate America

[yortsed snacilbuper]

13. Pray in one hand and $h!t in the other and see which one fills up the fastest!

[tabasco]

16. Sounds to me like they're endorsing a religion.

What a fucked up country we live in, largely due to idiotic superstitions.

[JEB]

17. The AZ GOP need to check their shorts for a Jesus shaped stain.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

19. "The AZ GOP need to check their shorts for a Jesus shaped stain."

Sounds like an Ebay auction is coming up!