Judge Hears Statehouse Prayer Arguments

INDIANAPOLIS -- A federal judge will decide soon what type of prayers can be offered in the Indiana House of Representatives.

Judge David Hamilton heard arguments Friday on a lawsuit designed to stop what the plaintiffs view as prayers that promote a specific religion, RTV6's Norman Cox reported.

The suit was filed by the Indiana Civil Liberties Union on behalf of three plaintiffs after what they viewed as a spate of aggressively Christian vocations by clergy invited by House Speaker Brian Bosma during the last session.

Plaintiffs said constant references to "Jesus Christ" and "our Lord and savior" violated the Constitutional separation of church and state.

Lawyers for the ICLU argued that U.S. Supreme Court decisions mandate non-denominational prayers that use general terms, such as "God" or "creator", but don't exclude members of other religions.

Bosma said he will not censor the clergy.

"I think the point here is do we tell people what they can or cannot say," Bosma said. "Do we tell a man or woman of faith that come to the General Assembly that they are not allowed to pray in the name of Jesus Christ? I don't think that's appropriate."

Civil liberties officials said that is not the issue.

"We are not asking the Speaker to assume any responsibility, other than to inform those who are about to deliver a prayer that the prayers must be non-sectarian -- that they must reflect the fact that we are a diverse state with diverse beliefs," said Ken Falk, of the ICLU.

Judge Hamilton gave no indication of when he would rule.

Bosma said he would abide by any court ruling, but added that when the Legislature reconvenes for an organization session Nov. 22, there will be a prayer and it will be like those in the past.