Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo. delivered a prayer on Sunday to open the 117th Congress. In his message, he referenced Hindu God Brahma and altered the traditional ending of “amen” by saying “Amen and awoman,” according to Fox News.
He said: “We ask it in the name of the monotheistic God, Brahma, and “god” known by many names by many different faiths.”
‘Amen and a woman.’
After the video was posted online, the Missouri Methodist pastor was criticized by other lawmakers who pointed out that amen is Latin for “so be it” and has no reference to gender.
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., took to Twitter to note that the word amen is “Latin for ‘so be it.’”
“It’s not a gendered word,” he posted. “Unfortunately, facts are irrelevant to progressives. Unbelievable.”
Former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich slammed the move as fresh evidence of Democrats moving to the left: “the radical madness has begun.”
Amen and awoman."perfect House Democrat prayer ending as House Dems focus on gender security by abolishing virtually every normal gender term like “father. Mother “-the radical madness has begun-Kevin McCarthy for Speaker!
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) January 4, 2021
The prayer comes after Pelosi introduced new House rules she said will help the lower chamber become the ‘most inclusive in history’ for transgender and nonbinary people.
The new house rules would remove gender specific references such as “man”, “woman”, “husband” or “wife” in the 45-page text that governs the House.
The package will be voted on by the House Monday.