Ohio House Speaker Ends Advance Submission of Invocations

Last May, the Clerk of the Ohio House of Representatives sent a memo to all House members urging respect for the then-House policy on invocations by guest ministers. Prayers were to be non-denominational, non-sectarian and non-proselytizing, and were to be submitted 72 hours in advance. (See prior posting.) Now an Alliance Defense Fund release reports that Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted has changed that policy. Husted sent a memo last month to the House Clerk stating: "Throughout the past few months I reflected and prayed upon an issue of great importance ... the issue is that of protecting prayer. After thoughtful deliberation, including the consideration of hiring a House chaplain, I have determined that our current guest minister program is working quite well.... [W]hile the Ohio House ... is under my leadership, we will not censor the content of prayers given prior to a House session. Please implement this policy immediately."