......The House chaplain earns $139,000 per year, and the Senate chaplain's salary is $122,400....
Senate chaplains have represented eight Denominations: Episcopalian (19), Methodist (17), Presbyterian (14), Baptist (6), Unitarian (2), Congregationalist (1), Lutheran (1), and Roman Catholic (1).Hmmm. All those Official Congressional Witch-Doctors seem to have something in common. Now what could it be...
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.Which neatly dodged the whole Constitutional issue.
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.Weasel-words. "Officer" should mean a person who actually does something, like the Sergeant-at-Arms or the clerks. Not an Official Congressional God-Botherer.
http://www.c-span.org/questions/weekly21.asp