Arizona State Legislator Objects To Invocation Delivered By Atheist House Member

AP today reports on an unusual controversy in Arizona over the opening prayer offered by one member of the state House of Representatives.  Members of the House rotate in offering the invocation. On Tuesday it was Rep. Juan Mendez's turn.  With members of the Secular Coalition for Arizona in the visitor's gallery, Mendez, an atheist, asked House members not to bow their heads but to instead look around at each other "sharing together this extraordinary experience of being alive and of dedicating ourselves to working toward improving the lives of the people of our state." The next day, Rep. Steve Smith complained that Mendez's remarks did not qualify as a prayer. He asked other House members to join him in a second prayer in repentance for there not being one the prior day. Smith said that Mendez's remarks were analogous to someone leading the Pledge of Allegiance by  pledging "I love England."