Posted by Phil Lee at pflee@NOSPAMwdn.com (64.24.91.200) on April 03, 2003 at 23:36:
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/display.htm?storyid=26041
Senate prevents preacher's prayer
By Clifford G. Cumber
News-Post Staff
ANNAPOLIS -- Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller barred a Frederick County preacher from offering the opening prayer in the Senate on Wednesday because he refused to remove a reference to Jesus.
The Rev. David N. Hughes, of the 100-member Trinity and Evangelical Church of Adamstown, was prevented from entering the Senate chamber -- on Mr. Miller's orders -- after senators objected to the reference at the end of the prayer: "In Jesus' name, amen."
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"I'm shocked by the response. I've never had this happen in 26 years" of being a pastor, the Rev. Hughes said.
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When Sens. Ida Ruben, D-Montgomery, and Gloria Hollinger, D-Baltimore -- both of whom are Jewish -- heard of the reference, they approached Mr. Mooney and the Rev. Hughes to ask him to strike the line because it could offend non-Christian members of the Senate. Mrs. Ruben is the Senate president pro tem.
Both said they would stay off of the chamber floor if the Rev. Hughes spoke the prayer as written.
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He declined to alter the text.
"This is my faith," he told them.
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