The Fountains’ minister, David Felten, offered a non-theistic invocation April 27 in the Arizona state legislature in solidarity with Rep. Athena Salman, an atheist lawmaker who was rebuked by House leadership for failing to invoke a higher power when it was her turn to give the April 18 daily opening prayer.

Pastor Felten was invited by Rep. Mark Cardenas, who says he prefers secular prayers.

“Personally, I’m Catholic,” said Cardenas. “But I asked Reverend Felten to give a secular invocation because that’s the most inclusive. It’s applicable to all of us regardless of our religious beliefs or lack of belief.”

Felten expressed dismay that Salman was chastised by Republican colleagues for offering a humanist prayer last week and said he saw it as religious discrimination that violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Felten said he wanted to draw attention to the “willingness of straight white men from a dominant religious tradition to use their office to shame a fellow representative who is a woman, minority and humanist.”

Felten’s prayer opened by asking members to “center yourselves in a manner that reflects your tradition and worldview.” It ended with a call to legislators to “express their privilege in actions of compassion and grace – especially for the benefit of those in our communities who are excluded or struggling to make their way.”

House Speaker J.D. Mesnard and other Republican members had accused Salman of breaking House rules when she did not pray to a god. They offered no criticism of Felten’s nontheistic prayer.

“Unlike Representative Salman’s experience, it appears that my title and clerical garb served as insulation from any immediate consequences,” said Felten. “Religious freedom shouldn’t be dependent on a title or clerical garb. It should be extended to all Arizonans – including religious minorities and the secular community.”

Tory Roberg, director of government affairs for the Secular Coalition for Arizona, said that allowing a clergyman to give a non-theistic prayer while censuring Representative Salman for doing the same is an example of government illegally preferencing religion.

“Reverend Felten was given privilege in the House because of his religious identity, where Representative Salman was discriminated against because of her nonreligious identity. This is not only unconstitutional but also morally repugnant.”

The Secular Coalition for Arizona educates elected representatives and other officials regarding issues important to Arizona nontheists.