Indianapolis, USA – The Indiana House on Monday urged its leader to continue challenging a court ruling that prohibits official meetings from beginning with prayers that mention Christ or promote any specific religion.
A resolution the House passed unanimously Monday says House Speaker Brian Bosma should use all lawful means to appeal the court order.
“Because it attempts to control the content of prayer, this order undermines the rights of all Hoosiers regardless of their theological convictions,” the resolution states.
U.S. District Judge David Hamilton ruled in November that official House proceedings could not begin with prayers that mention Christ or promote specific religions.
Bosma has already begun to fight Hamilton’s ruling. He has filed a request for a stay with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said he will be filing a full appeals brief before the April 10 deadline.
While Bosma awaits a decision on a possible stay, House members have been complying with Hamilton’s order by meeting for informal prayers in the back of their chambers before official business begins.
House Minority Leader Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, said both Democrats and Republicans support the resolution.
“It asks for the restoration of reasonableness, the restoration of balance – to bring our prayer from the back of the room to the front of the room,” Bauer said.
The resolution, which was adopted 83-0, said the court ruling is “contrary to the word and spirit of the First Amendment.”
“This order violates the fundamental rights of men and women conferred upon them by their Creator to always and freely seek the guidance and blessings of their Creator in accordance with the dictates of their conscience,” the resolution states.
Rep. William Friend, R-Macy, said lawmakers do not leave their personal religious beliefs at the door when they enter House chambers.
“It’s part of who we are,” Friend said. “We cannot separate our beliefs entirely from our deliberations.”
The Senate adopted a similar resolution in January. The Senate was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit that led to the ruling, but senators changed the way they begin their meetings by having a moment of reflection instead of an invocation.