Guest ministers invited to lead prayers at the Ohio House are violating state guidelines by evangelizing, speaking out on political topics and invoking the name of Jesus, the House clerk’s office said in a memo warning lawmakers.
The issue reached a tipping point during Wednesday’s invocation when the Rev. Keith Hamblen, pastor of Calvary Bible Church in Lima, made multiple references to Jesus, spoke favorably of church-sponsored schools and mentioned the bills up for debate that day, including a proposal to ban nudity in strip clubs after midnight.
That sparked a memo from House Clerk Laura Clemens, asking lawmakers to enforce state guidelines that require guest ministers to submit prepared remarks at least three days in advance for review. The rule had been loosely enforced.
“I would hate to have to eliminate this program but may find it necessary to do so if this trend continues,” Clemens wrote.
Rep. Matt Huffman, a Republican from Lima who invited Hamblen to give the prayer, said it was inappropriate for him to mention issues on that day’s agenda. “I kind of cringed when he did it,” he said.
Two Democrats, Robert Hagan of Youngstown and Chris Redfern of Catawba Island, walked off the floor during the prayer in protest. Redfern said prayers over recent years have become increasingly evangelical.
“The opening prayer is a time to be mindful of the obligations that we’ve been granted through our voters and gives us a chance to reflect,” said Redfern, who is also chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. “It should not be used as an opportunity to proselytize. At times, all we’re lacking is a river to take members down to dip them in.”
The U.S. Supreme Court has generally banned government-sponsored prayer at public events. But in 1983 it made an exception for Congress and state legislatures.
Ohio House guidelines require prayers to be nondenominational, nonsectarian and nonproselytizing.
Bill of Rights
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
No comments:
Post a Comment