INDIANAPOLIS – A ruling that bars the name of Jesus Christ or his titles, such as "savior," from invocations in the Indiana House of Representatives is being appealed.
House Speaker Brian Bosma says federal Judge David Hamilton's ruling tramples free speech rights. He says Muslims have told him that they fear that their faith could be censored next.
The Indiana Civil Liberties Union had sued on behalf of a Quaker lobbyist and three others who said the tradition of usually Christian prayers offended them.
Of 53 opening prayers in the House during its session this year, 41 were given by Christian clergy and at least 29 mentioned Jesus Christ. Judge Hamilton, the son of a United Methodist minister, said that amounts to "an official endorsement of the Christian religion."
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