Mary Jo Pitzl

The Republic | azcentral.com

An invocation from an atheist member of the Arizona House of Representatives reignited a dispute Thursday over what, exactly, a prayer is and how it should be expressed at the Legislature.

After Rep. Juan Mendez, D-Phoenix, finished the prayer that marks the start of the daily House session, he drew the ire of several Republicans, who said his words didn't meet the House's definition.

That definition, set earlier this year, describes prayer as "a solemn request for guidance and help from God."

Mendez did not invoke God, but instead spoke about the duty of lawmakers to represent all of Arizona, including "that beauty of our multi-cultural state that reflects our diversity of color, of heritage, of religion and lack thereof."

House Majority Leader Steve Montenegro, whose memo last month set out the prayer guidelines, led the opposition. The Litchfield Park Republican said Mendez's comments weren't a prayer and then called on a Baptist minister to deliver one.

Several GOP members condemned Mendez for making what they considered a mockery of a House tradition.

Arizona House requests God-only prayers

Rep. Bruce Wheeler, the assistant minority leader, rose to defend Mendez.

"He has every right to say what he said today," Wheeler, D-Tucson, said, asking his fellow lawmakers to all "take a deep breath" and get on with important bills. "We have to be very careful about what we're saying here about religious beliefs or nonbeliefs."

But he continued the debate when he added that Montenegro has told others that Catholics are not welcome at a Bible study class held regularly in the House basement. Montenegro denied the charge, noting "several" Bible study groups convene on the House campus.

Public prayer returning to Phoenix City Council meetings

Later, the communications director for the GOP leadership in the House released a letter from the pastor of North Valley Baptist Church inviting Wheeler to the regular Wednesday Bible study, saying it is open to all lawmakers.

Mendez said he felt he had been set up, noting the House had a Christian minister at the ready to lead a prayer.

The minister was seated at the press table, an unusual occurrence. Although Stephanie Grisham, the House spokeswoman, said there is a minister on premises every day, they rarely are on the House floor unless accompanied by a legislator. She denied there was any plan to make a "show" of Mendez's invocation.

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