Opening day
January 4th, 2006
The first day of session was short on official business. Many bills have not yet been filed, and committees are scheduling their first meetings. Most members are working on all the preliminary work that needs to be done – such as finding co-sponsors for legislation and asking committee chairs to hear their bills.
The only minor excitement was the pre-session prayer circle/media extravaganza that formed behind my desk on the floor of the House. Representative Peggy Welch (D-Bloomington) and Representative Eric Turner (R-Marion) led a prayer in the back of the chamber before session began. As reported in the Indianapolis Star:
…led by Reps. Peggy Welsh and Eric Turner, the small group of lawmakers huddled as Welch prayed in the name of “Great I Am” while Turner prayed in the name of Jesus.
The session then opened with a speech from House Speaker Brian Bosma, who indicated this would be the practice for the days ahead.
A judge’s ruling barred the Indiana House of Representatives from invoking the name Jesus in official prayers.
I was able to explain to a few confused reporters what “I Am” means – so in spite of another reporter’s jibes, Catholics, in fact, do know their Bible.
Entry Filed under: Statehouse
1 Comment Add your own
1. Doug | January 4th, 2006 at
I’m a little sad that you *had* to explain that to the reporters. That’s a rather important part of the Bible, after all. And, even if the reporters themselves aren’t Christians, it’s a significant part of our culture that a reporter ought to be familiar with if the reporter is going to properly report on the culture.
Just my opinion, of course. Glad you could provide an education. Anybody bring up the beginning of Matthew Chapter 6 providing an admonition against ostentatious prayer?
(A passage on my mind since I just posted it to my blog — prompting at least one thoughtful comment from a reader.)
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