Senate in Session--started with...PRAYER?!

[American liberal]

I'm sure this has already been bandied about these forums. I'd appreciate any links you'd provide on the topic. I happened to have ABC World News on last night just when they were reporting that the swearing in of the new Congress was preceded (sp) by a prayer session at some Lutheran church. Is this a new fundie thing? Or are they just starting to report it? So much for separation of church and state...
:grr:

[Richardo]

1. Only been happening for about 225 years....

There's been a Chaplain in the Senate since forever.

Find another battle.

[American liberal]

5. OK. thanks. *eom*

[JI7]

2. i believe they have always done this at every session of house and senate

[pmbryant]

3. I'm pretty sure Congress has always done this (n/t)

[bowens43]

4. Nothing new here.

[DaedelusNemo]

6. Bit inconsistent, but hey

The constitution itself wasn't consistent in the first place, and neither were the founding fathers, and certainly not what they ended up setting up. But these inconsistencies seem to only work themselves out very, very slowly. Example: slavery.

[Bridget Burke]

7. Yup. It's an old tradition.

And the chaplains have always been Protestant, too.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ChickMagic]

13. Right you are

Here's a snippet:

Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) who chaired the selection committee told the Times that while it did not officially rank the top three contenders for the post, House leadership was told that the majority of members considered Father O'Brien to be the most appropriate. Rev. Wright had actually come in third in the balloting, behind Rev. Dvorak.

The Washington Post reported that several Democrats "said they thought House leaders were trying to placate the religious right or were uncomfortable with naming a Catholic priest."

In an unusual move, O'Brien told reporters that he believed that had he been "of any mainline Protestant denomination," he would have been appointed to the post.

"I hope and pray that the 1960 presidential election did do away with the idea of Catholics as not being fully Americans," said O'Brien. "I'm not convinced that the prejudicial view is gone, and I do believe that if I were not a Catholic priest I would be the House chaplain."

http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/congres4.htm

Congress didn't always have prayer. A few of the first delegates argued for it, but it was soundly rejected. I'll have to research the cite for that, but I'm confident that it's true.

Edited to add (although there are other instances):

The United States was founded on the Constitution, not the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was equivalent to an act of Congress and does not have the authority granted to the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land. The Constitution does not contain the word "God." This was not an oversight. In fact, the original Constitution only contained one reference to religion of any kind: a statement that no religious test would ever be required as a qualification for public office. Moreover, there was very little controversy about this among the Founding Fathers. When Benjamin Franklin proposed that the Constitutional Convention open with a daily prayer, he was rebuffed. And when the Founding Fathers decided to supplement the Constitution with the Bill of Rights, the very first clause of the First Amendment prohibited government establishment of religion.

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jeff_lowder/pledge.shtml

[derby378]

15. Darn good point ya got there (n/t)

[vpigrad]

8. It's amazing how bad things are now with..

Bushie president! He has no shame.

[theboss]

10. Yep, a 225-year-old tradition was continued

Grab the pitchforks.

[theboss]

9. Wait 'til you find out about the chaplain....

Actually, this has been going on since Congress was founded.

[littleleaguemom]

16. And they have Bible studies in their offices

Even Hillary has gone to them. Try that at your job.

[orleans]

12. PUKE

:puke:

[ChickMagic]

14. Self absorbed kick

I'd like you to see post #13 and let me know what you think. :)

[Uzybone]

17. THIS IS THE FAULT OF THE DLC

and Moderate Dems. It has gotten to the point now that they can now pray in the damn senate??? Where is Kerry? What is he saying about this??? Im tired of those damn DLCers and insiders!!!

[Cuban_Liberal]

18. It's as old as the republic. n/t