IPFS News Link • Government
Arizona House requests God-only prayers
• azcentral.comRepublican House Majority Leader Steve Montenegro, a pastor, sent the memo explaining the rules for lawmakers wishing to lead the daily prayer on the House floor. Lawmakers can either offer a prayer themselves or invite "a member of the clergy" to give it on their behalf.
According to the memo, "Prayer, as commonly understood and in the long-honored tradition of the Arizona House of Representatives, is a solemn request for guidance and help from God." It goes on to state that a lawmaker's request to lead the prayer "is an avowal that the request is for the stated purpose."
Members who wish to instead offer a moment of silence, recite a poem, express personal sentiments or speak rather than pray, according to the memo, are invited to do so during another part of the daily procedures.