A handful of Hawaii legislators, including some who recently voted to end the practice of official invocations, gathered before the start of official business yesterday and prayed together.
"It's a matter of free speech," said Tsutsui, D-Wailuku-Kahului. "We do encourage members, at their own will and desire, to go ahead and engage in prayer."
…
The brief prayer asked God to bless senators' choices and sought guidance to do right for the people they represent, said participant Sen. Pohai Ryan, D-Lanikai-Waimanalo."Government and faith should be separate. But just because I voted against it doesn't mean I'm not a spiritual person," Ryan said.
Voluntary prayer prior to the business of the government is much different than an officially sanctioned moment of prayer that reflects a very specific religious view. I'm not sure the floor of the Senate is the best place for it (why make a show?), but kudos to these lawmakers for trying to demonstrate the distinction between private prayer – which is protected by the Constitution – and government prayer.
