WASHINGTON (KMOX) - Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) ended the opening prayer for the 117th Congress on Sunday saying “amen and awoman." The ordained minister's words have caused outbursts from those quick to point out that "amen" is not a gendered term.
“May the lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us and give us peace,” Cleaver said. “Peace in our families, peace across this land, and dare I ask o Lord, peace even in this chamber."
“We ask it in the name of the monotheistic God, Brahma, and ‘god’ known by many names by many different faiths. Amen and awoman.”
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Cleaver, who was reelected on Nov. 3 to represent Missouri’s 5th district, including Lafayette, Ray and Saline Counties, posted a link to his address on Twitter.
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler of Pennslyvania called it "unbelievable," and explained that the word amen is "Latin for ‘so be it.’"
Former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich called out the choice of words on Twitter, saying "the radical madness has begun."
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