PITTSBURGH—State House officials say they have been inundated with protests about a policy that barred a clergyman from using the word “Jesus” in a prayer that was to open one of the lawmakers’ daily sessions.

The Rev. Gerry Stoltzfoos, of the Freedom Valley Worship Center in Gettysburg, had planned to end his recent prayer with “In Jesus’ name, Amen.” Under the policy then in effect, he was asked by House Speaker Keith McCall’s office to submit the planned prayer in writing and to make sure it was nondenominational.

“They said my prayer was rejected because it contained an offensive word. Just once, in closing, I mentioned Jesus,” he said. “I thought they were kidding. I had carefully crafted the prayer not to be offensive in any way.”

He said he decided not to say the prayer at all rather than omit the name. The incident has sparked a controversy on the Internet including an online petition and denunciations of McCall.