Federal appeals court to hear Indiana House prayer case

AP Wire | 09/05/2006 | Federal appeals court to hear Indiana House prayer case:

"Indiana House leaders will seek private donations in their efforts to overturn a federal judge's ruling restricting opening prayers in the body's Statehouse chambers, House Speaker Brian Bosma said Tuesday.

The money would help defray costs of paying a private law firm tax dollars to defend a case set to be heard by a panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago on Thursday. Bosma also said that in a rare instance, the U.S. Department of Justice is weighing in on a legislative prayer case and will argue on the side of the speaker.

'It is my understanding that they and members of Congress are quite concerned about the impact of this case on the 225-year practice of free prayer in Congress,' said Bosma, R-Indianapolis. He said he has heard from hundreds of state and local officials from Indiana and other states who have encouraged a strong defense of the prayers."