Legislators in the Hands of an Angry God…
Posted by Seth Zirkle on 13 December 2006 | 2 responses
Indiana’s General Assembly is not alone in its fight against the wretched forces of sectarian prayer (read: “Jesus”). Yesterday the New Jersey State Senate was treated to Rev. Vincent Field’s invocation that included, “We curse the spirit that would come to bring about same-sex marriage,” on the very day the Senate Judiciary Committee was to vote on civil unions. Talk about coincidence! The big question: Should we consider Rev. Field a state actor while imploring divine judgment on the State?
This is just my opinion as a legal layperson, but I don’t see any constitutional problem with clergy giving prayers to open sessions of the legislature at the discretion of lawmakers. And I don’t see any need for non-sectarianism or any sort of strictly-enforced “equal time” rule. Legislatures are composed of adults, and I’m in favor of letting them work out their ceremonial trappings for themselves.
That said, Rev. Field’s invocation was simply in poor taste. Took a pair of brass ones, though.
The state legislature could rule that future invocations avoid any reference to specific issues. Pretty much limit it to a general petition for grants of wisdom.