Mary Jo Pitzl

The Republic | azcentral.com

April 20, 2017, UPDATE: On Thursday, about 50 representatives of various faith groups, as well as secular groups, rallied in front of the First Amendment monument at the Bill of Rights memorial.

They showed support for Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, whose prayer on the House floor Tuesday was deemed out of line because it did not invoke a higher power.

They also objected to the House policy, calling it unconstitutional and exclusionary.

"By requiring these 'prayers' to recognize a 'higher power,' the House rules silence secular lawmakers and prejudicially deny them a platform to speak that is available to their religious colleagues," said Zenaido Quintana, board chairman of the Arizona Secular Coalition.

Salman said she is unsure where the debate goes next, although she mentioned she and supporters have talked with to attorneys.

April 19, 2017, ORIGINAL POST:

When is a prayer not a prayer? The Arizona House of Representatives has an answer: When it doesn't invoke a higher power.

The obscure provision surfaced Tuesday after Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, offered the prayer to open the House's daily floor session.

"In a nation often eager to be polarized in its views, allow us in this moment to recognize what we have in common: A deep-seated need to help create a more just and positive world," she said.

That didn't strike Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley, as a real prayer. And, apparently, it doesn't fit with House rules.

Finchem sought, and was given permission, to offer his own invocation. He invoked Jesus.

Afterwards, House Majority Leader John Allen, R-Scottsdale, reminded the 60 lawmakers that he had issued guidance earlier this year on prayers: They should be short, accompanied by an interpretation if delivered in another language and must invoke a higher power.

If a lawmaker has no "personal investment" in a higher power, Allen said, "ask the members to focus on theirs.”

“I know it’s difficult to understand, but a prayer should be to a higher power," said Allen, who said he is a Christian. "If you don’t want to pray, don’t sign up for the prayer.”

Salman defended her choice of invocation, but House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, said he believed it was out of line.

Salman, who lists no religious preference, dropped the matter. You can read her "non-prayer" here:

"Take a moment to look around you at the people gathered here today. We come from a variety of backgrounds and interests, but the passion that ignites us; the fire that burns within us; is similar. We all seek to form "a more perfect union," creating change from an abiding passion to improve the lives of the humans of this city. There is wonder in that. More importantly, though, there is unity. In a nation often eager to be polarized in its views, allow us in this moment to recognize what we have in common: A deep-seated need to help create a more just and positive world. As we speak today, remember that commonality. Remember the humanity that resides within each and every person here, and each and every person in the city, and in all people in the nation and world as a whole. In the words of former President of Illinois Wesleyan University Minor Meyers, Jr., “Go forth and do well, but even more, go forth and do good.”

READ MORE:

Atheist lawmaker's prayer reignites debate at Arizona Capitol​

Arizona House requests God-only prayers​

Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter @maryjpitzl.