by Rusty Pugh – AFR News, 2/23/05 Recently, an avowed lesbian was allowed to pray an invocation for “gay rights” in the Virginia House of Delegates, where the name of Jesus is not allowed to be spoken. Debra Peevey, an openly homosexual pastor, recently used her invitation to pray in the House to condemn lawmakers who opposed granting special privileges to homosexuals. Peevy said: “Holy One, convict those who are using their power not to lead or to guide but to harm the gay and lesbian citizens, a small minority in this commonwealth.” The Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — whose jurisdiction covers Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina — ruled that the name of Jesus could not be mentioned during a state-sponsored prayer. FPN President Joe Glover says there is a double standard when Jesus cannot be mentioned but a lesbian can pray for a sinful lifestyle to gain acceptance. “But in the same Fourth Circuit … one cannot pray a prayer seeking the righteous, holy face of God, who condemns such sin, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ,” says Glover. “This is a double standard; the court was wrong in making this decision — and hopefully at some point the U.S. Supreme Court will overturn that wrong-headed decision.” In her prayer, Peevey prayed that lawmakers do not “use their power to harm gays and lesbians.” RELATED INFORMATION: Richmond Times-Dispatch: “Opening with a prayer…”