Indiana House members pray in protest???

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060105/NEWS02/601050426

Republican House leaders made it clear Wednesday they don't agree with a judge's ban on prayers that invoke the name of Jesus Christ during their proceedings.

But, led by House Speaker Brian C. Bosma, they decided to forgo the 189-year tradition of invocations -- at least for now -- and opted instead to have a free-spirited prayer huddle in the back of the House chamber minutes before the opening gavel.

"We're taking a stand. We're making a statement," Bosma said. "But within the bounds of the court order."

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The pre-session prayer huddles will continue until the judge's order is revoked, House leaders said. Bosma said his legal team, working with Attorney General Steve Carter, would formally appeal the order by Feb. 15.

Fran Quigley, executive director of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, whose lawsuit against Bosma prompted the court order, praised the House leader's solution of praying before the session.
"They're expressing their faith in a way that's not given the trappings of government speech, so I think it's constitutionally appropriate," Quigley said.

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Indiana University law Professor Daniel Conkle said it would have been easier to make the case that this was private speech had the prayer huddle been outside the House chamber, and not so close to the start of business.
"They're testing the limit," Conkle said. "I wouldn't necessarily conclude they've gone beyond it, but I think they're definitely getting close to the edge."

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"Those of us, myself included, who yearn for the opportunity to freely speak in accordance with our beliefs have historically always ended up on the right side of history," he said.
His remarks were met by a 30-second standing ovation from House members and the gallery.

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Less enthusiastic was Rep. David Orentlicher, an Indianapolis Democrat and the sole Jewish legislator. Orentlicher said he was in a meeting outside the House chamber when the prayer huddle took place. He said he had no problem with private and personal prayers.

But Orentlicher, who lingered in a doorway to the House chamber as Bosma explained his objections to Hamilton's order, said the speaker should be paying more attention to vital issues such as health care and tax policy and less to the prayer controversy.

He also criticized Bosma for continually insisting in public that free speech is at stake when his lawyers conceded that was not the case before Hamilton.

"It's unfortunate he wants to create religious conflict and political division when there are critical issues facing the state," Orentlicher said.

cont'd...

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060105/NEWS02/601050426