Pray for reason

We interupt our conversations with City Council candidates to bring you an opinion about this action out of Columbus:
Ohio House Speak Jon Husted wisely decided not to try censoring the prayers of clergy invited to give invocations before legislative session.

Prayer and censorship are two concepts that simply can’t be fused in the same sentence, which is why it’s a good idea for government to stay out of the religion business.

Courts have ruled that government bodies can open with prayers, but some decisions say proselytizing or mentioning a specific deity is not OK, while others say that’s permitted as long as all religions are given equal opportunity to pray before the legislators. Husted and Ohio got involved in the debate because last May a visiting preacher uttered a pre-session prayer invoking Jesus’ name and referencing pending legislation against strip clubs. That violated a decade-old tradition of nonsectarian prayer, and prompted a couple of legislators to walk out before the “Amen.”

As keeper of the House, it was up to Husted to come up with a new policy, which he did on Tuesday.

He’s decided to “split the baby,” so to speak, allowing visiting clergy to mention their deity, but asking them not to speak of specific legislation or to pray for votes.

I don’t doubt that our legislators need our prayers, but I’d prefer that people in government not try to lobby the Lord for votes.