This is total and utter bullshit!

[modest mouse]

From the US Senates own website. Re: The Senate Chaplain. A position I didnt even know existed.

Chaplain's Office

Throughout the years, the United States Senate has honored the historic separation of Church and State, but not the separation of God and State. The first Senate, meeting in New York City on April 25, 1789, elected the Right Reverend Samuel Provost, the Episcopal Bishop of New York, as its first Chaplain. During the past two hundred and seven years, all sessions of the Senate have been opened with prayer, strongly affirming the Senate's faith in God as Sovereign Lord of our Nation. The role of the Chaplain as spiritual advisor and counselor has expanded over the years from a part-time position to a full-time job as one of the Officers of the Senate.

Duties of the Senate Chaplain

In addition to opening the Senate each day in prayer, Dr. Ogilvie's duties as full-time Chaplain include providing spiritual care and counseling for the Senators, their families, and their staffs (a combined constituency of more than six thousand people) and leading special Bible study groups, discussion sessions, and prayer meetings. His days are often filled with sessions with Senators discussing the spiritual and moral issues of our time as well as personal counseling. He is also available to assist Senate staffs with research on theological and biblical questions as well as personal needs.

Chaplain Ogilvie teaches several Bible study groups each week. He leads the Senators' Bible Study every Thursday at noon and the Senate Spouse Study which meets regularly on Tuesdays at 1:15 p.m. His Senate Staff Lunch and Bible Study Groups meet at 12:00 noon on Wednesdays and Fridays. The Senate Couples' Bible Study Group meets periodically throughout the year.

In order to keep informed about the needs of people in the Senate family, Dr. Ogilvie has recently developed a program with a volunteer liaison in each office to assist him. A member of his staff directs this program.

 

[curious2c]

Remember...these are the same people who party hearty with drugs, booze, sex of all kinds...regular guys. They need to pray. Pray that they don't get caught doing that which they make laws to prevent us from doing...having fun.

 

[sunstruck]

Ok, I can't believe I never thought about that.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

The United States of America was founded with a firm reliance upon Divine Providence. God is part of the country, its inception, its legislation, its Constitution. Reflections on and respect for God in the Senate does not conflict with separation of church and State. Favoring a particular faith, would, but, despite the Chaplain's own theism, the Chaplain's duties are generally considered to be multi-demoninational.

 

[RawHumor]

Oh no! A spiritual chaplain in the Senate? What a waste of taxpayer money!

Caviar, anyone?

 

[RawHumor]

The United States of America was founded with a firm reliance upon Divine Providence. God is part of the country, its inception, its legislation, its Constitution. Reflections on and respect for God in the Senate does not conflict with separation of church and State. Favoring a particular faith, would, but, despite the Chaplain's own theism, the Chaplain's duties are generally considered to be multi-demoninational.

Thank you. It means more coming from an atheist. People would expect ME to say something like that (but with less words, and some sort of idiotic humor thrown in).

 

[lavender]

multi-demoninational.

LOL

That's a classic typo.

 

[sunstruck]

LOL

That's a classic typo.

I thought it was a joke.

 

[RawHumor]

LOL

I didn't even catch that.

 

[Dantetier]

when they accept a muslim, or a jew, or the dali frickin' llama as their spiritual advisor, then I'll stop think that is just plain stupid.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

LOL

I'm not even going to fix it.

 

[lavender]

You shouldn't. That's hilarious.

 

[modest mouse]

DCL, sorry but you are incorrect. Multi-denominational is a joke. Such a thing does not truly exist. The fact that the Senates own website 'assures' us that our Senators strongly reaffirm their belief in god is bad enough.

A chaplain should receive no taxpayer money nor should it be an officially recognized position. The opening prayer is blatantly unconstitutional.

 

[curious2c]

Ok then...why is it okay for them to have a chaplin to lead them and not have prayer in school? (not that I want that, although a moment of silence at the start of the day might be nice though)

I have always had problems with any form of religion being practiced or used in government. Our government was created by religious men who never thought that non-belief would be so wide-spread today. They did however prevent any particular church or 'belief' to be forced or used in government. Farsighted? not really...they knew that they didn't want the church (Catholic) to be part of any control or government in their new country.

Funny how most religions have sections in their respective books of knowledge that show or teach that forgivness is a step to heaven and then they persecute others for not belieiving as they do.

 

[modest mouse]

More info, care of C-SPAN

Have the House and Senate always had chaplains? What are their duties? Isn't having one in Congress a violation of the separation of church and state?
Except for a brief period in the 1850's, both the House and Senate have chosen to appoint a chaplain ever since the Continental Congress appointed the first -- an Episcopal priest from Philadelphia (Jacob Duche) to serve as chaplain from 1774-1776. The first House chaplain was appointed in 1789, William Lynn, a Presbyterian from Philadelphia. The first Senate chaplain was Samuel Provoost, an Episcopalian from New York, also appointed in 1789.

Since then, the Senate has had 61 chaplains; the House 58. The current House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin, a Catholic priest, was appointed on March 23, 2000. His predecessor, Rev. James D. Ford, a Lutheran, had served in the post for 21 years. The Senate Chaplain is Lloyd Ogilvie, a Presbyterian who has served since 1995.

The House chaplain earns $139,000 per year, and the Senate chaplain's salary is $122,400. House chaplains have come from nine denominations: Methodist (21), Presbyterian (17), Baptist (8), Episcopalian (4), Christian (2), Congregationalist (2), Unitarian (2), Lutheran (1), and Universalist (1).

Senate chaplains have represented eight Denominations: Episcopalian (19), Methodist (17), Presbyterian (14), Baptist (6), Unitarian (2), Congregationalist (1), Lutheran (1), and Roman Catholic (1).

Regardless of denomination, it is expected that clergy selected to serve as chaplain will do so not as a denominational advocate, but as an individual pastor sensitive to diverse religious backgrounds among Members of Congress. While the official chaplains have all been Christians, guest chaplains (who are invited about twice a month), have come from other faiths, e.g. Judaism, Islam, Native American religions, and others.

The chaplains today have a variety of duties. They open each legislative session with prayer. They coordinate the candidates for "guest" chaplains (who are nominated by Members of Congress) and host them. They provide spiritual counsel to Members and their families. They conduct Bible studies for Members. They make hospital visits, and perform weddings and funerals. The Senate chaplain, with a smaller "parish", has also extended some of these services to congressional staff. The House chaplain, with a much larger "congregation," mostly limits his availability to Members.

The six-year hiatus without appointed chaplains lasted from 1855-1861. The House decided to suspend the practice because it had become fraught with problems of competition among the political patrons of various clergy candidates, with each Member advocating his favorite pastor for the post. Instead, the House asked local clergy residing in Washington, D.C. to take turns leading the House in prayer. The Senate did the same for only two years, 1857-1859. Both chambers gave up on this solution because it became too difficult to rely on local volunteers who were not always available and who did not have the time to get to know their special "flock."

There have been critics over the years who have charged the practice of official chaplains violates the concept of separation of church and state. In 1983, the Supreme Court upheld the practice of having an official chaplain as deeply ingrained in the history and tradition of this country. They stated the ultimate authority for the position lies in the Constitution which states that the House and Senate may each choose their officers, with no restrictions on what kind of officers may be chosen. Using that authority, both chambers have chosen to continue to elect an officer to act as Chaplain.

It appears as if the chaplain is permissable via aloophole. I argue that it still violates, clearly, the intent of the document. Nice to know taxpayer money is going to religious leaders. Yeah!

 

[curious2c]

Let me know when it is Jerry Falwells turn there...I will need the time to clear my pc out. heh heh heh

Better yet...when do we do equal time? You know...Satanism, Paganism, Druidism... and any other religions out there?

 

[RawHumor]

Re: More info, care of C-SPAN

Nice to know taxpayer money is going to religious leaders. Yeah!

I know it. They should save that money for hookers and cocaine like God intended.

 

[modest mouse]

Re: Re: More info, care of C-SPAN

I know it. They should save that money for hookers and cocaine like the framers of the Constitution intended.

Fixed it for you.

 

[RawHumor]

Thanks!

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

A prayer in the senate is not unconstitutional because they're grown men and know what they believe in, despite the appearance of preference for a particular faith.

School organized prayer in school is unconstitutional because children are influenced by those around them and there is no way for the school to show non-preference during organized relgious ceremonies, and that constitutes undue pressure.

 

[modest mouse]

A prayer in the senate is not unconstitutional because they're grown men and know what they believe in, despite the appearance of preference for a particular faith.

School organized prayer in school is unconstitutional because children are influenced by those around them and there is no way for the school to show non-preference during organized relgious ceremonies, and that constitutes undue pressure.

Your argument has no legal standing.

But lets move on...

If they are grown men why the need for the prayer? Are they not "reaffirming their faith in god"? Its not an appearance of preference, its outright preference. Blatantly.

 

[sunstruck]

Tax payer money goes to military chaplian saleries.

 

[Cheyenne]

Tax payer money goes to military chaplian saleries.

What's that saying? Something like "there are no atheists on the battle field."

And thank you Dixon. I agree with you.

 

[bknight2602]

A prayer in the senate is not unconstitutional because they're grown men and know what they believe in, despite the appearance of preference for a particular faith.

School organized prayer in school is unconstitutional because children are influenced by those around them and there is no way for the school to show non-preference during organized relgious ceremonies, and that constitutes undue pressure.

And the desire to seperate church and state.

 

[modest mouse]

What's that saying? Something like "there are no atheists on the battle field."

Chey, please tell me your tongue is at least partially in your cheek.