Congressman introduces bill to protect prayer in state legislatures

[Charlie Brown]

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/local/13924347.htm

Rep. Mike Sodrel said Tuesday that he has introduced legislation to bar federal judges from ruling on the content of prayer in state legislatures.

The legislation, which will be co-sponsored by Indiana's five other Republican congressmen, would remove from federal courts jurisdiction over reviewing the content of speech in legislatures, Sodrel said during a Statehouse news conference.

In November, U.S. District Judge David Hamilton banned prayers during Indiana House proceedings from mentioning Jesus Christ or endorsing any particular religion.
Sodrel called Hamilton's ruling "a clear example of judicial activism."

"It threatens to spread across the nation," he said.

Sodrel said his bill would provide immunity for content of speech for lawmakers or their guests during a legislative session, excluding witnesses and excluding speech that constitutes treason, an admission of a crime or a breach of the peace.

[gratuitous]

1. Enforcing the First Amendment = judicial activism?

Thanks, Mr. Sodrel. How long have you sided with Al Qaeda, which similarly doesn't think anyone should be free to practice any religion except theirs?

[Demeter]

2. Sodrel Can't Find Anything More Important To Do?

Illegal war, illegal wiretaps, election fraud, dissolving economy, eternal tax breaks, Iran-sword rattling; I could go on, but the point is, Sodrel should NOT go on.

[AnneD]

15. Prayer...

last refuge of a scoundrel.

[anitar1]

24. Thanks, AnneD, thay have made prayer a dirty word, IMO. n/t

[snacker]

3. So glad he's concentrating on the important issues---NOT! n/t

[central scrutinizer]

10. Hey, these legislators are really suffering

their pain is much more important than, say hungry children without health insurance for example.

[ixion]

4. gee, but I thought the US didn't support sectarianism

which this most obviously is.

[stepnw1f]

5. Forcing Prayer Down Everyone's Throat

Poor poor faithless morons.

[BiggJawn]

6. They weren't JUST "prayers"....

They were holding fuckin' REVIVAL MEETINGS before the start of the session in the House of Bubbas. Only things missing were the altar calls and sinner's bench.

[enlightenment]

13. What's a "sinner's bench?" n/t

[BiggJawn]

18. It's what you sit on after answering the altar call...

...Before the Evangelist smacks you on the forehead and declares you a "New Critter in KEE-RYST!"

[enlightenment]

21. ah . . .

thought it might be the chair you got sent to if the re-bornin' didn't take. . .

Thanks!

[BiggJawn]

28. Oh, it ALWAYS "takes"...

Whether or not it gets "taken back" is a differnet matter....
:)

[LiberalFighter]

22. And the problem too was Hoosier Democrats support this

I think it was like 86-0 voted in favor of having prayers before sessions. Leaving about 14 not voting for one reason or another.

[BiggJawn]

29. The House of Bubbas think Indiana is 100% Christian.

Witness our soon-to-be license plates that proclaim "In GAWD We TRUST"...

It's our own fault. We write thoughtful, intelligent letters to our Bubbas,putting forth thoughtful reasons why their proposed legislation is not a good idea, and then they get visited by some garbageman in a brown polyester suit who moonlights as a "Pastor" who tells them they hold the 200 votes of their congregation in their Gawd-blessed hands.

I don't even get responses to my letters. the 20-something pieces of eye candy in tight blouses these guys always seem to have working for them as "Aides" must get awful tired hitting the Delete key on me.....

[Benhurst]

7. What a timid proposal. Why not protect the

right of legislatures and courts to perform animal sacrifices to the gods on the steps of their buildings? Now that would be a step in the right direction. Human sacrifices might also be considered. They really seem to turn the gods on and would do much to cut down on the surplus population.

[mondo joe]

8. His problem is Constitutional Activism.

How dare the constitution say what he can do?

[0rganism]

9. this legislation is a direct violation of separation of powers

I wonder if it can be challenged on this basis?

[Kitsune]

23. Beat me to it.

Did these people sleep through civics class or something?

[indypaul]

11. These yahoos are just like

puppy dogs lined up at the fire-hydrant waiting in line
to express their "Christianity." Remember the saying
about being a Christian. It is a lot like being lady-like.
The more you have to tell me you are, the more I am inclined to believe you are NOT.

[enlightenment]

12. WTF?

"Sodrel said his bill would provide immunity for content of speech for lawmakers or their guests during a legislative session, excluding witnesses and excluding speech that constitutes treason, an admission of a crime or a breach of the peace."
------------
That phrase isn't talking just about prayer -- it's talking about anything they say. So, those lawmakers or their guests could get up and spew the most filthy, degrading, racist (etc, etc) rhetoric, and GET AWAY WITH IT??

arrggh.

[Zenlitened]

14. American Taliban.

What is prayer, and why do it before a civic meeting for making laws?

This is not about faith. It's about declaring "We're the ones calling the shots here, see, and anyone who doesn't like it had better just shut up and go along."

American Taliban.

:puke:

[bobbieinok]

16. this is what judge ruled against....IN prayers very sectarian

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/31/AR2005123100723_pf.html

....

It was Clarence Brown's energetic rendition of "Just a Little Talk With Jesus" that prompted several legislators to decide enough was enough. The Indiana Civil Liberties Union soon filed suit in the name of four people -- a Quaker, a Methodist and two Catholics -- to stop what critics considered an increasingly sectarian prayer practice.

Brown, 51, is an evangelical Christian layman who works in an auto parts factory 70 miles south of Indianapolis. Invited to give a prayer to open the April 5 House session, Brown said he was thinking about the separation of church and state as he drove to the state Capitol.

He said he talked with God during the ride and decided to speak up for the man he considers his savior. "I wanted to share the word. That's what I'm supposed to do," Brown said. "I have to do what Jesus Christ says for me to do as a witness."

Brown's prayer included thanks to God "for our lord and savior Jesus Christ, who died that we might have the right to come together in love." When the prayer was finished, Bosma announced that Brown would "bless us with a song."

As Brown led the rollicking tune, some members and staffers clapped and sang along.

Several others left the chamber.

more....

I first came across this at

http://www.talk2action.com

a site that monitors the religious right.

[LizW]

30. "Several others left the chamber"

I guess they felt the better head out before the snake handling started.

[Lexingtonian]

17. Good Lord-

This is all about the Brian Bosma thing and the Indiana state House.

I guess we all need a law of this kind to protect all the wonderful and consecrating things that go on while the House of Representatives of the state of Indiana decides how to steal and misspend and waste taxpayer money. I'm sure they're all becoming better Christians in the process of ensuring that Mammon gets his due and the widows and orphans don't. After all, Christian God-talk is so efficacious while the lucre is being divvied up and cronies are on the phone asking for an earmark.

For some reason, bigotry is one of the things legalized by this law Mike Sodrel wants. I guess treason, crime, or incitement are unChristian speech, but false witness is not a problem.

I imagine under this law Christ would be tossed out of the Indiana state House if he came to throw out the money changers there.

[SoCalDem]

19. It's to be expected

the devout base is getting primed to vote..Yank their chains and wake 'em up.. get 'em all revved up with righteous indignation and rage.. Gotta trigger that "GAGG" reflex to make them turn out


God
Abortion
Gays
Guns

[Blue_Tires]

25. don't forget flag burning!

always another hot topic

[Hardrada]

20. Another GOP Christer MF

[Shelor]

26. Yawn. Another symbolic bill that's DOA.

[HuffleClaw]

27. "Sodrel said his bill would provide immunity for...

...content of speech for lawmakers or their guests during a legislative session, excluding witnesses and excluding speech that constitutes treason, an admission of a crime or ***a breach of the peace***."

***a breach of the peace***

hmmmm, no doubt something like a t-shirt perhaps? or a MUSLIM prayer?