House Democrats claim prayer is 'disrespectful'
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 28, 2004 12:00 AM
Rep.
Doug Quelland, R-Phoenix, caused a stir on Tuesday when he delivered a
prayer on the House floor that took aim at multiculturalism, welfare,
abortion and "alternative lifestyles."
It was a prayer that has made the rounds on the Internet since 1996
when it was delivered before the Kansas House of Representatives.
Offended Democrats, led by Rep. Wally Straughn of Phoenix, filed an
official protest, saying the prayer was partisan, disrespectful and
divisive.
Here is the prayer:
Quelland: "Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your
forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know your word
says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we
have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our
values. We confess that:
"We have ridiculed the absolute truth of your word and called it
pluralism.
"We have worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
"We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.
"We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
"We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.
"We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
"We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
"We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
"We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building
self-esteem.
"We have abused power and called it political savvy.
"We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
"We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it
freedom of expression.
"And we have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and
called it enlightenment.
"Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there
be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
"In the name of your son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen."
This is the Democrats' response:
Straughn: "Pursuant to House Rule 20, we, all the members of the House
Democratic Caucus, protest the lack of respect that was shown the
members of this body and the citizens of Arizona during the opening
prayer on January 26, 2004.
"The opening prayer is the one opportunity during each day that we can
come together as a body. The opening prayer should unite us, not divide
us.
"But the prayer on January 26, 2004, was divisive. It was a pandering,
mudslinging, name-calling political statement. It was hateful and
mean-spirited. It was undignified.
"The citizens of Arizona deserve better. We are diverse. We have unique
perspectives. And our unique voices should be respected. Especially
during the opening prayer, as members of this body we must set aside
our differences and show respect for Arizona in all of its diversity."