Capitol Hill Embroiled in Controversy After Catholic is Rejected as Chaplain

A battle has erupted on Capitol Hill over the selection of a new chaplain for the United States House of Representatives.

Some observers claim that a Roman Catholic priest was deliberately passed over for the post because an historic anti-Catholic sentiment has permeated American government since its founding, while others suggest that a Protestant was selected to please the conservative evangelical political force known as the Religious Right.

Two weeks ago, House Republican leaders announced they had selected Charles Parker Wright, a Presbyterian minister, as the new chaplain.

This surprised many of the 18 members of the House select committee who spent months screening nearly 50 candidates and eventually decided via secret ballot that a Roman Catholic priest, Timothy O’Brien, was the best choice.

When House leaders passed over O’Brien who would have been the first non-Protestant in the post opponents cried foul. Meanwhile, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State called for the position itself which pays $135,200 annually and has an additional office budget of $277,000 annually to be abolished.

Some members of Congress openly speculated that House leaders were pandering to the Christian Right, a political movement that began 20 years ago as a grass-roots cause among conservative Christians to influence American politics. The Religious Right is largely credited with the 1994 election upset when Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives for the first time since the 1950s. Although Wright himself has no connection whatsoever with the Religious Right, observers have suggested that supporters of the Religious Right would be happier with a Protestant in the post than a Catholic.

Other members of Congress openly accused Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and Majority Leader Dick Armey with being anti-Catholic.

“As a member of the House and a member of the committee and as a Catholic, I’m offended and resentful,” Anna G. Eshoo, a Democrat from California, told the New York Times.

Meanwhile, representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United say the Congress should end the sniping and abolish the position.

“The charge of religious bigotry damages the reputation of the House and undermines the public’s confidence in the House leadership’s commitment to religious non-discrimination,” said Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United.

In a letter to Hastert, Lynn said, “The answer is not to try to improve the selection process, but to abolish the post of House chaplain.”

In fact, Congress has had a chaplain since its founding in 1789. The post became a full-time job in 1979, and James B. Ford, a Lutheran minister who retires at the end of this month, has held the job for the past 21 years.

According to House rules, “the Chaplain shall attend at the commencement of each sitting [daily session] of the House and open the same with prayer.”

The chaplain also provides private counseling for members of congress and their staffs, participates in public ceremonies and co-ordinates the use of the House of Representatives prayer room.

Former chaplains have included Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Unitarian, Congregational, Episcopal (Anglican) and Lutheran clergy. No Catholic has ever held the post. Neither has a Jew, Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu. The search committee originally considered nearly 50 candidates, then narrowed the list to 17, who were interviewed. The committee selected six of the candidates, interviewed them again and then secretly selected the final three.

Wright’s selection will be formally addressed and voted on when the House of Representatives reconvenes in session in January.