Lawmaker Refuses to Apologize for Praying in Name of Jesus
A Pennsylvania lawmaker accused of offending Muslims by praying in the name of Jesus said she will not apologize.
A Pennsylvania lawmaker accused of offending Muslims by praying in the name of Jesus said she will not apologize.
“I don’t apologize for it because that’s how I pray almost every day,” State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz said during an exclusive interview on the “Todd Starnes Radio Show.”
“It doesn’t matter who I’m standing in front of — I’m standing for Jesus no matter what,” she said on the nationally syndicated radio show.
Democrats were infuriated when Borowicz opened the General Assembly by invoking the name of Jesus Christ during the prayer.
“Jesus, you are our only hope,” Rep. Stephanie Borowicz prayed. “At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus that you are Lord.”
Borowicz delivered the prayer shortly before Movita Johnson-Harrell — the first Muslim woman elected to the General Assembly — was sworn in.
“It blatantly represented the Islamophobia that exists among some leaders — leaders that are supposed to represent the people,” Johnson-Harrell said in a statement published by the Pennsylvania Capital Star. “I came to the Capitol to help build bipartisanship and collaborations regardless of race or religion to enhance the quality of life for everyone in the Commonwealth.”
Democratic Leader Frank Dermody of Allegheny County called the invocation “beneath the dignity of this House” and asked that a group be set up to review the procedure.
Gov. Tom Wolf, also a Democrat, said he was “horrified” by Borowicz’s invocation.
Just a few minutes after the Christian prayer, a Muslim cleric delivered a prayer in Arabic and reportedly quoted from the Koran.
There was no condemnation from Democrats or the mainstream media even though the Muslim prayed to a higher power.
So if a Muslim can pray to Allah in the Pennsylvania statehouse, why can’t a Christian pray in the name of Jesus?
“That’s what my 15-year-old son said last night,” Borowicz said on the “Todd Starnes Radio Show.” “There’s a double-standard.”
The freshman lawmaker said she prays to Jesus every day and reads her Bible and quotes Scripture.
“As Christians, we don’t pray differently based on who we’re standing in front of,” she said. “So whether that would have been in front of a crowd at my church and Christians or before Muslims or before Hindus, I stand for Jesus no matter what and no matter who I’m in front of.”
Borowicz dismissed accusations that praying in the name of Christ is somehow Islamophobic.
“That’s ridiculous. I said I’d pray to Jesus. It’s not directed towards anyone,” she said. “But Todd, we know that there’s power in the name of Jesus and so I think that it becomes offensive because there’s power behind it.”
Ironically, the state capitol building is filled with religious references and Bible verses from the Old and New Testaments.
“You can see the Scripture as you stand up there and pray— that we all know the truth and the truth shall set you free,” she said referring to an inscription of John 8:32 in the House chamber.
I wonder if the leftists consider the Christian Bible verses Islamophobic, too?
Instead of capitulating to the godless mob of Democrats, the state lawmaker has decided to stand her ground.
“It’s time for Christians and other people to start standing up and speaking out,” she said. “I think we’ve been silent for too long.”