Divisive opening prayer given as first Muslim woman is sworn into Pa. House

[Miguel M]

Divisive opening prayer given as first Muslim woman is sworn into Pa. House

At the end of the session day, House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody of Allegheny County expressed his displeasure on the House floor about the prayer that quietly disturbed other members on both sides of the aisle. Saying for the 28 years he has served in the House, Dermody said he found the opening prayer represented a time where members paused to be inspired and united.

“It should bring us together and have us think about what we can do and how we can work together to make this state work,” Dermody said. “This morning on a very important day, on a day where we’re swearing in a new member, the first woman Muslim serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in history, there was a prayer that was not meant to inspire us. There was a prayer that was not meant to bring us together."

Turzai interrupted Dermody admonishing him about ascribing motive to a member’s words. Dermody replied he was speaking about her words, not Borowicz herself.

“It was not meant to bring us together. It was not meant to inspire us. It was beneath the dignity of the House,” he said, drawing a full 20 seconds of applause from members.

Article with video --> here.

Video

[tymorial]

1. Oh yeah, that's not divisive at all...

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Don't mix church with state and this one is solved

[Docreed2003]

3. This is the kind of evangelical nutter

That will stand there after issuing that roll call of biblical crap and be completely appalled that anyone could have been offended and suggest that anyone displeased with her words is displeased with God.

[ret5hd]

4. Sounds like pentecostal blither blather...

It would only be worse if she started speaking in tongues.

[underthematrix]

5. Check out Matthew 6:5

Last edited Tue Mar 26, 2019, 05:55 PM - Edit history (1)

Link to tweet

[GoCubsGo]

9. Do you mean Matthew 6:5?

[underthematrix]

10. Yes I do. I reversed the chapter and verse.

[GoCubsGo]

12. It's definitely very appropriate here.

It was the first thing I thought of when I heard the video.

[Danmel]

6. Wow. That was scary crazy

And so wholly inappropriate. I have worked for an elected official for 13 years at different levels of government. I hate invocations. No one should feel uncomfortable because of prayers imposed at a government meeting. I have often stood, as a Jewish woman, standing alone with my head unbowed, not crossing myself and I live in a suburb of NYC.
But the court has upheld it in Town of Greece v. Galloway in a decision written by Anthony Kennedy.
I would definitely have left the room during that bizarre tirade.

[GoCubsGo]

7. Well, Mr. Dermody, your first mistake was allowing the mix of religion with your state's business.

I never understood why a prayer was necessary to do government business. I don't give a shit that you are a Christian, a Muslim or a worshiper of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I just want you to repair the damn roads and fix the school system.

[java108]

8. Sick to death of these christianist fuckheads and their sanctimony.

[dalton99a]

11. Idiot from Trump Country, PA

[TomSlick]

13. I think Jesus would not be pleased.

The reference above to Matthew 6:5 is apt.

[spanone]

14. How about NOBODY pray in government buildings?