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WASHINGTON – A Hindu clergyman made history Thursday by offering the Senate’s morning prayer, but only after police officers removed three shouting protesters from the visitors’ gallery.
Rajan Zed, director of interfaith relations at a Hindu temple in Reno, Nev., gave the brief prayer that opens each day’s Senate session. As he stood at the chamber’s podium in a bright orange and burgundy robe, two women and a man began shouting “this is an abomination” and other complaints from the gallery.
Police officers quickly arrested them and charged them disrupting Congress, a misdemeanor. The male protester told an AP reporter, “we are Christians and patriots” before police handcuffed them and led them away.
Click here for full MSNBC article.
See excellent discussion on Sepia Mutiny blog here:
July 15, 2007 at 7:23 am
Why should prayer precede a senate session ? After all, isn’t secularism about being indifferent to or rejecting religious considerations?I’m absolutely appalled to know that the US senate entertains clergymen.