By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services/East Valley Tribune
A prayer is only a prayer if it refers to God, at least according to the state House of Representatives.
And that means atheists like Rep. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe, can’t give the official prayer that starts off every session.
That unofficial policy was adopted last month by House Majority Leader Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park. So the prayer on Monday — the day Mendez wanted because the Secular Coalition of Arizona was at the Capitol — was instead offered by a minister who made repeated references to the Almighty as well as Jesus Christ.
