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IPFS News Link • Government

Arizona House requests God-only prayers

• azcentral.com

Republican 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.


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